An earthenware bowl, transfer-printed in blue. It is decorated with a rope border at the top, inside and out, and chain cable at the bottom. On the sides are scenes of naval battles, trophies and sailors waving flags, between two cartouches surrounded by laurel and oak leaves enclosing the head of Queen Victoria and 'MESS NO 54' (printed upside down for easy identification when the bowl is stacked). An oak leaf and laurel border runs around the interior with a royal crown in the centre. Before 1907 naval messes had to buy their own crockery and such items were manufactured for this market.