A London-decorated coffee can and saucer, probably Paris, circa 1795-1800

A London-decorated coffee can and saucer, probably Paris, circa 1795-1800
With oval panels painted with a detailed naval battle, the flagships Queen Charlotte and Montague engaging in close fire, a pink ribbon border inscribed 'THE FRENCH FLEET DEFEATED JUNE 1 1794, BY EARL HOWE', the grounds banded with gold, saucer 12.8cm diam (2)
The battle, known as The Glorious 1st of June, was claimed as a victory by both Britain and France. Britain captured or sank seven French ships, but failed in its aim to stop a vital French grain convoy from America, which the French fleet had been protecting. Howe was hailed as a hero, but there was much criticism for the manner in which the battle had unfolded with many British captains failing to follow orders. Having limped back to Britain for repairs, the fleet in Spithead received a Royal visit by King George III and numerous honours were bestowed on its commanders.

The scene depicts Howe's flagship HMS Queen Charlotte breaking the French line and is probably adapted from a print after Robert Dodd, published by Benjamin Evans in January 1795. It is likely that the can and saucer was painted by an independent enameller in London, and it probably dates from 1795 or 1796 when Howe's victory was widely celebrated in Britain. At this date, however, French porcelain was not readily available in London and it was not until circa 1800-1801 that the Baxter workshop, for example, commenced enamelling on French porcelain. It is therefore possible that the present lot was not created until five or six years after the Glorious 1st of June.

There is also a possibility that the porcelain is not French at all, as a very similar 'hard paste' white porcelain was made in other parts of Europe. Some Naples porcelain, for example, was decorated by independent workshops and British naval links to Naples were established before 1793 when Nelson arrived in the city for the first time.