Ben Gunn character jug produced by W. R. Midwinter of Burslem, England, circa 1960. Benjamin "Ben" Gunn is a fictional character in the 1883 novel "Treasure Island" by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Gunn is an ex-crewman of Captain Flint's who has been marooned for three years on Treasure Island by his crewmates, after his failure to find the treasure without the map. During his time alone on the island, Gunn develops an obsessional craving for cheese. He first appears in the novel when Jim Hawkins encounters him. Ben treats Jim kindly in return for a chance of getting back to civilization. Jim leaves Gunn behind but escapes to the "Hispaniola" on Ben's coracle. Ben appears later making ghostly sounds to delay Long John Silver's party on its search for the treasure, but Silver recognizes his voice, which restores the pirates' confidence.
They forge ahead and locate the place where Flint's treasure was buried. The pirates discover that the cache has been rifled and all of the treasure is gone. Gunn's hair forms the handle of the jug.
Maker:
W. R. Midwinter
England
circa 1960
Model #:
Treasure Island Collection
character jug
Size:
medium
Height:
4 1/4"
