Medallion

Maker & role
Josiah Wedgwood (b.1730, d.1795), Manufacturer; Henry Webber (b.1754, d.1826), Designer
 Production date
1789
 See full details

Object detail

Production place
England
Collection
Museum of Sydney
Measurements
0 - Whole, Diam: 5.6cm (Diam: 56mm)
Production notes
Modelled by William Hackwood (Wedgwood's principal modeller) from a design by Henry Webber (one of Wedgwood's artists and brother of the artist John Webber). Josiah Wedgwood was a friend of Sir Joseph Banks to whom the clay had been sent.
Signature & marks
First side: ETRURIA/ 1789
Second side: MADE BY/ JOSIAH WEDGWOOD/ OF CLAY/ FROM/ SYDNEY COVE
Credit line
Gift, through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2004
Caroline Simpson Collection, Museum of Sydney Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Sydney Cove Medallion, 1789
Description
One of a pair of Sydney Cove Medallions, 1789, each 5.7cm diameter and dark brown in colour, made from a sample of Sydney Cove clay sent by Governor Arthur Phillip to Sir Joseph Banks in late 1788. This commemorative medallion was designed by Henry Webber and made by Josiah Wedgwood at his pottery Etruria to mark the founding of the new colony. The medallion’s neoclassical figurative design represents ‘Hope encouraging Art and Labour under the influence of Peace, to pursue the employments necessary to give security and happiness to an infant colony’. Wedgwood produced a similar medallion for the French Revolution later in 1789 with a design derived from the Sydney Cove Medallion, but the figure of Hope was replaced by Liberty. The first batch of Sydney Cove medallions, completed November 1789, were shipped to Sydney onboard the Second Fleet and gratefully received by Governor Phillip in June 1790. The exact location from which the Sydney Cove clay was drawn is unknown, however some speculate that it was likely the site of first Government House, the house being under construction at the time Phillip collected the clay. (The Sydney Cove Medallion by L Richard Smith, p2). Arguably one of the most historic pieces ever made by the Wedgwood factory, there are a number of replicas of the Sydney Cove Medallion, however only 11 copies of the original 1789 medallion are known to exist, and just 8 are held in Australia.
Accession number
MOS2005/5-2

Share

My shortlist

Maker

Object name

Subject

Media / Materials

Styles

Technique

Explore other objects by colour

Public comments

Be the first to comment on this object record.

Google reCaptchaThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.