Commemorative of Admiral Nelson and Captain Berry prattware pitcher circa 1805, English

Dated: 1805 English

A fine Prattware commemorative relief moulded pottery pitcher with images of Admiral Nelson and Captain Berry. The striking defined decoration is further enhanced with war ships firing cannons. This piece is an early 19th century example in uderglaze oxides and pearlware glaze. In 1805 at Trafalger Berry was captain of the 'Agamemnon'. Note; When King George remarked upon the loss of Nelson's right arm, he wittily replied, indicating Berry, "But not my right hand, your majesty".

Dimensions: 6 inches high

Current Condition: Fine unrestored condition

Literature: (From Wikapedia)The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement fought by the Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies, during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). The battle was the most decisive naval victory of the war. Twenty-seven British ships of the line led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard HMS Victory defeated thirty-three French and Spanish ships of the line under French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve in the Atlantic off the southwest coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar, in Caños de Meca. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty-two ships, without a single British vessel being lost. The British victory spectacularly confirmed the naval supremacy that Britain had established during the eighteenth century and was achieved in part through Nelson's departure from the prevailing naval tactical orthodoxy. This involved engaging an enemy fleet in a single line of battle parallel to the enemy to facilitate signalling in battle and disengagement, and to maximise fields of fire and target areas. Nelson instead divided his smaller force into two columns directed perpendicularly against the enemy fleet, with decisive results. Nelson was shot by a French musketeer during the battle and died shortly after, becoming one of Britain's greatest war heroes.

£950    $1282