Saucer

Deep saucer, part of a breakfast service that belonged to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). It is painted in full colours and gilt with Nelson's coat of arms and supporters. In the centre, the shield within the motto 'TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO' (three joined in one), his personal motto 'PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT' (let he who earned it bear the palm) on a ribbon below. Above the arms, the chelengk and 'SAN JOSEF' crests with his motto 'FAITH AND WORKS', a Duke's and a Viscount's coronet; below, two Naval gold medals and the Order of St Ferdinand. The saucer has a gold rim and a border of oak leaves and acorns. In the inventory of the contents of his house at Merton, sold by Lady Hamilton in 1809, a dessert and tea service of this pattern is referred to as the 'Nelson Set'. There are eleven saucers similar to this example AAA4558-AAA4559, AAA4569-AAA4577 in the museum's collections. The Nelson coat of arms with its motto 'Tria juncta in uno' was granted to the family in 1664. When he was created a Knight of the Bath in 1797, Nelson chose his own supporters, a sailor holding the broad pennant on a staff trampling on a Spanish flag and a British lion tearing the Spanish flag to tatters. His crest was the stern of the 'San Josef' and his motto 'Faith and works'. On 20 November 1798 he was granted the following augmentations: a ship, palm tree and disabled fort in chief, an additional crest of a chelengk on a naval crown and the motto 'Palmam qui meruit ferat'. The sailor acquired a palm branch and a French flag was placed in the mouth of the lion. Nelson Baron's coronet was exchanged for that of a Viscount in 1801.

Object Details

ID: AAA4569
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Saucer
Display location: Not on display
Creator: John Rose & Co.
Date made: circa 1802
Exhibition: Seduction and Celebrity: The Spectacular Life of Emma Hamilton
People: Nelson, Horatio; Nelson, Horatio
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Nelson-Ward Collection
Measurements: Overall: 35 x 160 mm
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