Doulton & Co were one of the major producers of commemorative wares covering political and military events which were celebrated with a variety of mugs, jugs, busts, flasks, vases and teapots. The design for the Australian federation ceramics was by John Slater and John Shorter.

The Commonwealth of Australia was inaugurated on 1 January 1901 in a ceremony in Sydney's Centennial Park. The official signing of the documents followed a parade through the city streets from the Domain, along Macquarie Street and out through Pitt Street to Oxford Street. Firefighters, police, stockmen, trade unionists, representatives of foreign governments, British Empire troops and Australia's first governor general, Lord Hopetoun, marched through the lavishly decorated streets watched by a crowd of 250,000. Ten plaster arches spanned the roadway representing aspects of Asutralian life. A special pavilion, designed by NSW Government Architect Walter Vernon was erected in Centennial Park for the Declaration of the Commonwealth and the swearing in of Lord Hopetoun, the first Prime Minister Edmund Barton and his ministry. The same pen, inkstand and table were used as had been used by Queen Victoria when she signed the Australian Commonwealth (Constitution) Act on 9 July 1900. The Ceremony ended with a massed choir singing God save the Queen and the Hallelujah chorus followed by 10,000 school children singing Advance Australia fair and Rule Britannia.

Beaker, Australian Federation Commemorative Ware, earthenware, made by Doulton & Co, Burslem, England, 1901

Earthenware beaker with circular base and cylindrical body with straight, slightly flaring sides. The mouth is open and features a band of zig zag and diamond patterns around the interior and exterior of the rim with gold trimming on top. The exterior of the body is white glazed with brown transfer decoration of Richard Seddon framed by a wreath on one side and text on the other. There is also a large crudely glued break on the upper body and a pressure crack horizontal to the base.

Made: Doulton & Co (Burslem works); Burslem, England; 1901

Designed: Shorter, John Austin;

Designed: Slater, John;

Surrounding the portrait of Richard Seddon is 'HE STOOD FOR EMPIRE / RICHARD.J.SEDDON / HUMANITARIAN.' On the other side is 'REQUIEM / "In midst of victory thou hast found thine end; / Old errors vanquished, lo! the case of right / Has found thee life-long champion, life-long friend, / The nation thou hast welded moves in might!" / J.C.ANDERSON.'. There is no maker's mark on the beaker.

A2778-823

1901

100 mm

81 mm