A fine Flight, Barr and Barr portrait medallion of Nelson...

A fine Flight, Barr and Barr portrait medallion of Nelson by Thomas Baxter, circa 1815
In biscuit porcelain, the circular medal embossed with a profile portrait, titled 'Admiral Lord Nelson', self-framed in deep blue and gold, the outer frame finely 'jewelled' with a linked chain of pearls and coloured jewels, the edge with gold and bronze bands, 8.2cm diam, script mark Flight Barr & Barr, Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester, London House 1 Coventry Street
Provenance
Bonhams, 18 October 2005, lot 55a

This rare medallion, originally discovered on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, was one of a pair with a similar medallion of the Duke of Wellington. Another identical pair of Nelson and Wellington medallions is in Southend Museum and there is a single, untitled Nelson medallion in the Museum of Royal Worcester. This latter example, donated to the museum from the Rous Lench Collection, in signed on the reverse 'TB 1805', even though it wasn't made until the tenth anniversary of Trafalgar.

Thomas Baxter worked for Flight, Barr and Barr in Worcester between 1814-16 and was famously an all-round 'decorator'. As well as being a fine painter, Baxter was also an accomplished modeller and gilder. It is possible that the jewelling on this medallion is also his work. It is said that Baxter modelled vase shapes while working for Flights, and a biscuit figure of a Classical maiden is also believed to be his work. Four finely-detailed portrait medallion subjects by Baxter are known. Aside from Nelson and Wellington, a self portrait of Thomas Baxter is recorded as well as a portrait of his father, Thomas Baxter Senior. See John Sandon, Dictionary of Worcester Porcelain, p.63.

Thomas Baxter's close friendship with Emma Hamilton is discussed elsewhere in this catalogue. It is, however, unlikely that Baxter ever met Lord Nelson and his finely-modelled portrait will be based on the work of other medallists.