Captain Phillip Jug – Royal Doulton Loving Cup

Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) entered the navy as a midshipman in 1755, and by the time he was selected to found the first penal colony in New South Wales (1786) had reached the rank of Post Captain with a good though undistinguished record. He was, however, known as a determined and incorruptible man and during his tenure showed surprising vision. It took eight months for this first fleet of eleven ships to reach Botany Bay in 1788 where the convicts who were to form the workforce of the settlement of Sydney were formally transferred to Captain Phillip. As Governor he had wide powers to appoint Justices, officers, ministers, levy armed forces, execute martial law and grant lands but was handicapped by the time it took for fresh suppplies and communications to arrive from England. His command was shortlived but by the time he left in 1792 there were 86 free settlers to farm the land including ex-convicts and marines.
The jug depicts the flagship “Sirius” sailing to Australia and Captain Phillip with his officers on shore toasting the flag. The lip is modeled as a mask of his head, with around the bottom the words “COLONY NEW SOUTH WALES FOUNDED JANUARY 1788 SYDNEY”. A band of eucalyptus leaves adorns the rim while underneath the handle is a list of the governors from Phillip to Wakehurst in 1938.