A Coalport bread and butter plate from the 'Nelson Set...

A Coalport bread and butter plate from the 'Nelson Set Tea Service', circa 1802
The centre with the full arms and insignia of Nelson enamelled over a lightly-printed outline, the border painted with oak leaves and gilded acorns, 21.3cm diam
Provenance
Vice-Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson
Emma, Lady Hamilton
Charles Wentworth Wass Collection, Phillips, 6 December 1995, lot 325

The 'tea service' itemised as part of the Nelson Set in the Trickey Inventory of Lady Hamilton's china indicates that it matched the design of the Nelson Set dessert service. This 'Nelson Set' tea service should more correctly have been called a breakfast service, for the cups are exceptionally large. The porcelain is Coalport, decorated in London. Unlike the extensive Horatia Set listed in the same inventory, this Nelson tea service contains only a limited number of different shapes. In this short list the final entry is '4 Bread and butter Plates'. The present lot will be one of these.

This plate was part of the Charles Wentworth Wass Collection and was sold by Phillips on 6 December 1995, lot 325. A newspaper cutting on the reverse of this plate refers to a significant auction of 'The Nelson Relics' and suggests that this came from the 1895 sale from Lord Bridport's collection. This was shown in the exhibition of special porcelain from the Wentworth Wass collection held by Thomas Goode & Co in 1898, catalogue no.61.

For more information on the 'Nelson Set Tea Service' please see lot 55 in this sale.