Earthenware mess plate, printed in blue with a central motif of a garter inscribed 'HONI . SOIT . QUI . MAL . Y . PENSE' enclosing a foul anchor and 'MESS No. 2' (the numeral is hand painted). The whole is surmounted by a royal crown with a spray of a rose, shamrock and thistles below. The edge of the plate is divided into eight panels, two with floral sprays, one with a paddle steamer, three with various scenes of shipping off a coast and two with identical naval trophies. Before 1907 naval messes had to buy their own crockery and such items were manufactured for this market.