Earthenware mess plate, printed in blue with a border of two entwined, wavy ropes enclosing sprays of roses, thistles and shamrocks. Foul anchors are suspended from the ropes and a chain of square links runs around the centre of the plate. The central motif is a foul anchor within a garter belt inscribed 'HONI . SOIT . QUI . MAL . Y . PENSE', swallow-tailed ensigns behind, a royal crown above and a rose, thistles and shamrocks below. Printed 'MESS' with the hand-painted number '5' below. Before 1907 naval messes had to buy their own crockery and such items were manufactured for this market.