Jar of Marine Fish

Jar of 24 unsorted marine fish (reef and inshore species), Ambon, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney

William John Macleay, who donated these fish from Ambon to the University of Sydney, set out to develop his collections of zoological specimens, both through field collecting and from the purchase and exchange of specimens. In 1880 he received animal specimens from Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge, Governor General of the Dutch East Indies (1875–1881) and a keen naturalist.

Ambon is in the Coral Triangle, an area in Southeast Asia with the highest marine biodiversity in the world. It was also once the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, and a major port in the spice trade due to the exclusive presence of clove, nutmeg, and mace. 

This object shows the importance of colonial establishments as both centres of governance and economic control, as well as being sources of natural history specimens for trade among 18th and 19th century collectors and museums.