A London-decorated Paris dish from the 'Nelson Set Dessert Service',...

A London-decorated Paris dish from the 'Nelson Set Dessert Service', circa 1802
Of finely fluted circular shape, the border with brightly enamelled oak leaves and gilded acorns, reserving two panels of blue drapery and gilt inscriptions, the name 'Nelson' appearing twice above 'San Josef' and '14th February', the centre with the full arms of Horatio, Viscount Nelson, picked out in enamel colours and gilding over a lightly printed outline, 22.4cm diam
Provenance
Vice-Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson
Emma, Lady Hamilton

It is more than likely that this is one of the 4 Dishes (Round) that formed part of the dessert service from the Nelson Set. It is not much bigger than the plates in the service, however. The decorators had little time to complete the order, and so they may have needed to use whatever sets of white blanks they could locate, from France, during war time.

An identical dish is in the National Maritime Museum, no. AAA4549. And for more information on the Nelson Set please see lot 49 in this sale.

Many pieces of the Nelson Set tea (or breakfast) service were included in Viscount Bridport's sale in 1895. These will have come down in the family by direct inheritance from Nelson's niece, Charlotte. The Bridport sale did not include any dessert service pieces, however. The ice pails, on the other hand, and a dessert plate, are in the Nelson-Ward Collection by decent from Nelson's daughter Horatia. These splendid pieces, emblazoned with Nelson's full arms, can be seen in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.