Ice pail, part of a dessert service that belonged to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). One of a pair (AAA4547-AAA4548) of large porcelain urns painted in full colour and gilt. It has a separate dished cover with a raised rim (AAA4547.2). The body has a circular hollow foot and moulded gilt handles. Both sides are painted with Nelson's full coat of arms surrounde
d by the motto 'TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO' (three joined in one) with chelengk and 'SAN JOSEF' crests, with his personal mottos 'FAITH AND WORKS' and 'PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT'. A Duke and Viscount's coronet are placed above the shield; two Naval gold medals and the Order of St Ferdinand are suspended below it. The service is decorated with oak leaves and acorns with the borders and inscriptions in gold. 'Nelson' is inscribed on both sides of the foot of the base, which has a gilt palm leaf pattern round the waist and 'Battle of the Nile' and 'San Josef' below the handles. The cover has oak leaf borders inside and out. Reserves in the interior repeat the chelengk and 'SAN JOSEF' crests. The exterior is inscribed above and on blue swags, 'Nelson', 'Baltic' and 'Nelson', '14th February' (the date of the battle of Cape St. Vincent). In the centre of the cover, the inscription 'Battle of the Nile'. In the inventory of the contents of his house at Merton, sold by Lady Hamilton in 1809, a dessert and tea service of this pattern is referred to as the 'Nelson Set'.