Lloyd's Patriotic Fund vase, presented to William, 1st Earl Nelson (1757-1835), after the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.

Silver-gilt vase and cover of amphora form, with a flat cover surmounted with a lion passant and decorated with bands of oak leaves and acorns. The two high vertical handles are surmounted by florette paterae. Around the neck of the cup is a band of scrolling foliage. On the body in relief is Nelson's coat of arms on one side and on the other a presentation inscription in Latin. The circular foot is decorated with laurel leaves. The cup stands on a square pedestal with canted corners inscribed with Nelson's victories in Latin, and this is supported by a platform on four ribbed bracket feet with a merman blowing a conch shell at each corner.

The Patriotic Fund was founded at a meeting of Lloyd's Coffee House at the Royal Exchange, London, in July 1803. It set up a national subscription used to vote money to those wounded in action, and to the dependants of those killed, and also gave awards of merit in the form of money, silver and presentation swords. Fifteen Patriotic Fund vases were awarded after the Battle of Trafalgar, in different sizes according to value. John Flaxman, the sculptor, produced the final design for the vases, which were supplied by the Royal Goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. Since Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson had died before receiving his reward for Trafalgar, the Patriotic Fund Committee voted two £500 vases to his family, this one to his brother William, who had been created the first Earl Nelson, and one to his widow the Viscountess Nelson, which the Queen now owns. The design of the two Nelson vases was more elaborate than the rest. They are of silver-gilt rather than silver, and stand on additional plinths, being larger and heavier than the others. The design, although essentially the same as the smaller vases, differs in having Nelson's coat of arms on one side and a long presentation inscription on the other, in English on Lady Nelson's and in Latin on the Earl's, in place of Britannia and Hercules.

The full Latin inscription is: 'Viro reverendo ac praenobili Guilhelmo comiti Nelson de Trafalgar vice comiti de Merton nec non omnibus qui eas dignitates jure paterno possidebunt ut monimentum memoriae sacrum praefecti classis Britannicae praeclarissimi fulminis belli navalis Horatii vice comitis Nelson de Nilo qui contra classes et Galliae et Iberiae junctas prope promontorium Trafalgar XII cal.Nov.An.Ab Incarnatione MDCCCV fortiter occubuit hoc pignis maestissimus gratissimisque animis DDD. Incolae Britanniarum.'

The four sides of the pedestal are inscribed: 'TRAFALGAR Satis inquit vixi Invictus enim morior', 'PROM. S. VINCENTII Per damna per caedeo ab ipso Ducet opes animumque ferro', 'CANOPUS Atque hic undantem bello magnumque flumentem Nilium ac navali surgentes aere columnas Addam', 'HAFNIA. Bellnate prior jacentem Lenis in hostem’.