28/10/2026
A JUG WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HISTORY — ROYAL DOULTON, 1938
One of the pleasures of the antiques trade is finding objects that bring fine craftsmanship and history together. This Royal Doulton Captain Phillip commemorative jug, now at Leven Antiques Centre, is a wonderful example — an elaborate piece of English ceramic art with a distinctly Australian story.
Issued in 1938, the jug commemorates the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the British settlement at Sydney Cove in January 1788. Designed by Charles Noke and Harry Fenton, it was produced in a limited edition of just 350, giving it particular interest for collectors of Royal Doulton and Australian historical memorabilia.
The attraction lies in the detail. Rather than simply placing a commemorative image on an ordinary vessel, the designers made the entire jug part of the story. Captain Arthur Phillip’s face forms the pouring lip, while the handle is modelled as a textured tree branch. Around the body, colourful relief scenes depict HMS Sirius under sail and Phillip with his officers at Sydney Cove. The sculptural decoration invites you to turn the jug and follow the narrative around its surface.
A band of eucalyptus leaves encircles the rim, introducing Australian foliage into the design. Beneath the handle appears a list of New South Wales governors, beginning with Phillip and continuing to Lord Wakehurst, who held office when the jug was issued. An inscription around the lower body records the foundation of the colony and Sydney in January 1788. These carefully considered details make it a particularly engaging commemorative piece.
Its subject takes us back to the First Fleet and the beginnings of the British colony in New South Wales. Its manufacture, however, tells us about another moment in history: the way Australians marked that anniversary in 1938.
Sydney’s sesquicentenary celebrations included a re-enactment of Phillip’s landing. On the same day, Aboriginal activists held the historic Day of Mourning, protesting dispossession and discrimination and calling for citizenship and equality. Today, this jug can be appreciated both for its ceramic artistry and as a surviving object from that complex commemorative year.
For collectors, the limited edition of 350 is an important part of its appeal. That figure records the size of the original issue; it does not tell us how many remain today, or how many survive without damage or restoration.
Recent market evidence provides an interesting indication of the interest in this model. On 30 July 2026, a Captain Arthur Phillip jug numbered 11 of 350 sold at auction through Lion and Unicorn in Florida for US$2,500 at the hammer. With the published 30% buyer’s premium, the purchase price was US$3,250 before any applicable tax or shipping. The auction catalogue described that example as being in good condition.
Here in Australia, another example, numbered 2 of 350, is currently advertised by an antiques dealer at A$4,950 - a useful comparison.
Now 88 years old, this is a piece with appeal beyond the usual boundaries of Royal Doulton collecting. Maritime imagery, Australian history, expressive modelling and a small original edition come together in an object that rewards a closer look.
That is what we enjoy about antiques: the opportunity to hold something from another time, examine the workmanship and discover the stories it carries.
You are welcome to inspect this fascinating jug at Leven Antiques Centre, 23 King Edward Street, Ulverstone.
For further details or purchase enquiries, please message our page or call in and see us.
