Three Wilson creamware platters from the 'Baltic Set Dinner Service',...

Three Wilson creamware platters from the 'Baltic Set Dinner Service', circa 1802
Of rounded rectangular form, enamelled with a border of oak leaves and acorns reserving panels inscribed 'Nelson', 'the Glorious 1st of August' and 'the San Josef', the well of each platter titled 'Aboukir' and '14th Feby', the centres with a fouled anchor within a wreath and 'Nelson, 2nd April, Baltic', 31.7cm, 29.2cm and 25.8cm wide, impressed 'Wilson', marked 'no.92' in brown script (3)
Provenance
Probably Vice-Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson
Probably Emma, Lady Hamilton
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery and Midlothian (1847-1929); at Dalmeny House
Thence by descent
Sotheby's London, 5 October 2005, lot 176

The Trickey inventory of Lady Hamilton's possessions drawn up circa 1813, lists the component parts of the Baltic Set Dinner Service in some detail. Twenty various serving dishes are listed with nominal sizes given in inches. Seven different sizes are listed between 10 inches and 20 inches. The present lot will almost certainly have been among these 10 inch and 12 inch dishes that came from Merton.

An identical 43.5cm platter is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, no.AAA4596.

Only a few pieces from this extensive creamware dinner service have been noted as having the impressed name mark of the Staffordshire potter Wilson. It has been suggested that the Baltic Service was decorated in London, and if this is so, creamware blanks from more than one manufacturer may have been used.

Please see the footnote to lot 66 for information on the creamware 'Baltic Set Dinner Service'.