The Queen’s Vase was designed by John Wadsworth from Mintons England Ltd. and handcrafted by the British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. On 14 July 1954 the vase was presented to the Queen by the British Pottery Manufacturer’s Federation. Eleven replicas were then presented to seven Commonwealth countries and the four countries of the United Kingdom by the Queen throughout 1954, with each vase bearing the Coat of Arms and floral emblems of the country.

The Queen’s Vase, presented to Australia during the Queen’s tour in 1954, is a particularly intricate piece of bone-china. The large glazed and gilded ceramic vessel has ten sides and a separate lid, with moulded animals supported on a black-bean wood base. The animals are the ‘Queen’s beasts’, ten heraldic animals that depict the genealogy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

John Wadsworth
John Wadsworth (1879–1955) was a British artist well known for his pottery and the son of fellow potter Philip Wadsworth. Wadsworth was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in 1889, and. In 1905 became Art Director of Mintons, a major Staffordshire pottery company. In 1915 he was made Art Director of the Royal Worcester porcelain Company before returning to Mintons in 1935.