Captain Hardy’s Trafalgar Watch »
In 2024, almost twenty years after I handled the sale of the gold pocket watch worn by Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (see Nelson’s Watch), I sold the watch carried on that same fateful day by Nelson’s faithful flag captain and friend Thomas Masterman Hardy. Captain Hardy’s Trafalgar Watch THE GOLD WATCH […]
. View Post » Historic Model of HMS Victory »
On 5 July 2022, Sotheby’s London sold an extraordinary early model of HMS Victory which had been on loan at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich since 1962. Familiar to scholars, the model is the only known contemporary model of Victory in her Trafalgar state and it offers an invaluable and important material record to the […]
. View Post » The Nelson Map, Norfolk »
In 2022, I created The Nelson Map for the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Admiral Lord Nelson’s birthplace village of Burnham Thorpe in North Norfolk. Based on a survey of Norfolk published in 1797, the map highlights places of especial interest to Nelson’s early life including his school in Norwich and the houses […]
. View Post » Nelson in His Own Words »
In October 2022 I curated an exhibition at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth of Nelson letters from the collection of the The Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in Athens. The collection includes never-before-seen letters from Nelson to his mistress Emma, Lady Hamilton, and orders written by the admiral in the days leading up to […]
. View Post » “Lord Nelson’s Victory off Trafalgar” rediscovered painting by American artist Mather Brown »
MATHER BROWN (1761-1831) Lord Nelson’s Victory off Trafalgar Oil on Canvas, circa 1805-7. 101.6 x 124.5cm (40 x 49 inches), framed. PROVENANCE: After 1807: Sold by the artist to the “Mayor of Liverpool”, probably John Bridge Aspinall (1758-1830, Mayor of Liverpool in 1804). May 1922: Sold Christie’s, London. 1966: With Hahn & Son, London. 1966-70: […]
. View Post » Re-discovered painting of the death of Nelson »
The Death of Nelson, 1805 Samuel Drummond (1765-1844) Oil on canvas, framed, 52 x 62cm. Probably Royal Academy, London, Summer 1806 (catalogue number 505), as Sketch for a death of Lord Nelson Private collection, Somerset. This vivid image might be considered the earliest artistic reaction to the death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar […]
. View Post » Admiral Lord Nelson’s “Horatia” Service »
CHAMBERLAIN’S WORCESTER WATER PLATE FROM ADMIRAL LORD NELSON’S CELEBRATED “HORATIA” SERVICE Ordered at the factory by Admiral Lord Nelson in August 1802 The circular dish with double skin and hollow handles for filling with hot water, richly-painted in the Chamberlain’s ‘Fine Old Japan’ pattern, number 240, the Imari style floral decoration including pairs of green […]
. View Post » Nelson’s Lost Jewel »
To coincide with the publication of my new book “Nelson’s Lost Jewel: The Extraordinary Story of the Lost Diamond Chelengk”, celebrated London jewellers Symbolic & Chase commissioned an exact replica of the fabled lost jewel based on a drawing of the Chelengk discovered in the College of Arms. Made by master goldsmith Philip Denyer, the […]
. View Post » Captain Thomas Dundas’ Trafalgar Silver Cup »
A large silver cup, plain with tapering half-fluting and reeded edge standing on circular foot, engraved with a coat of arms within an oak wreath and robe mantling; by Solomon Hougham, London 1802. Height: 205mm / 8 inches Weighs 524 grams / 16 tr oz 16dwt Arms: Argent a lion rampant gules a bordure […]
. View Post » Above the salt »
This George III silver salt, with gilded interior, was made by Daniel Pontifex in London 1800. It belonged to Admiral Lord Nelson and probably formed part of a service of silver he purchased after the battle of Copenhagen in 1802 using funds granted him by Lloyd’s Coffee House. Pontifex also supplied the Copenhagen service with […]
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