Earthenware mess plate, transfer-printed in blue with a central circle enclosing a foul anchor and 'MESS No 22'. The border is printed with four scenes representing the four seasons: ice skating on a frozen lake with mountains in the background; dancing around a maypole; raking hay; and reaping the harvest. The scenes have an outer broder of roses. Before 1907 naval messes had to buy their own crockery and such items were manufactured for this market.