For hundreds of years, notable citizens in United Kingdom and Europe were remembered by their families casting brass effigies to place on or near the burial site of the deceased.

Since the age of Queen Victoria, many travellers have made an art form of copying these historic brasses on special paper with crayons. This pastime has been practiced so much that many original brasses have been almost rubbed smooth.

The present method of re-producing the original cast so facsimiles can be rubbed means that the originals are preserved and more people are able to obtain their own image of this classical art form.

St John's Cathedral has had a collection of facsimiles for a number of years and is one of the few places in Australia where Brass Rubbing can produce the faces of people who lived in England hundreds of years ago.

The St John's collection
A Choice of 30 brass facsimiles includes Lords and Ladies, Knights and children. Printed notes are available giving information about each figure, including detail on the life and clothing styles of the period represented.

Brass Rubbing subjects
1. Son of William & Martha Penn
2. James de Holveston
3. Thomas Golde
4. Margaret Bernard Peyton
5. Elizabeth Poyle
6. Children of Sir Ralph & Lady Elizabeth Verney
7. Children of John & Sarah Penn
8. Daughters of William & Martha Penn
9. Children of Master Oliver & Dame Elizabeth St. John
10. John Poyle
11. Master Oliver St. John
12. Arthur & Sessely Page
13. Elizabeth Culpeper
14. Edward Harris
15. John & Alice Chudderle
16. Lady Elizabeth Verney
17. Medieval Yeoman of the Crown
18. Dame Elizabeth St. John
19. Sir John Clerke
20. Alice Hyde
21. Sir William Laken
22. Sir Ralph Verney
23. Sir John de Foxle
24. Paul Dayrell
25. Margaret Dayrell
26. Coat of Arms of Sir John Clerke
27. John & Mary Rixman
28. Isobel (Boleyn) Cheyne
29. Sir Roger Bellingham
30. Canon Henry Oskens
Addition notes
31. Exhibition of Medieval and Tudor Brasses
32. Brass Rubbing from Westminster Abbey
33. Newspaper Article - Brass Rubbings St John's Cathedral (Brisbane)
34. Master Copies of Brochures

Time required
Small rubbings take about 20 minutes to complete and larger ones might take up to an hour. It takes approximately 10 minutes to prepare the paper for the rubbings, so it is suggested at least 30 minutes be allowed for each group exercise. Groups can book a time for Brass Rubbing.

When a group is larger than 12, it is suggested it be divided and others have a guided tour of the cathedral with volunteer guides, sketch the beautiful building or draw the designs of cushions, changing over so that every member of the group has a brass rubbing to take home. This facility is currently not available for individuals.

Cost
Depending upon the size $5, $7, $10, $15.
Schools may negotiate a cheaper price for the small pieces.

Enquiries
Ph (07) 3835 2231
Email: ccahill@anglicanbrisbane.org.au

Joan Bird, February 2003.