Royal Naval Exhibition Diploma

A framed and glazed commemorative diploma that was awarded to the Admiral Superintendent of H.M. Dockyard Chatham at the Royal Naval Exhibition I Chelsea in 1891. The top of the diploma is decorated large array of musical instruments, flags, navigational instruments and weapons, on top of a picture of Queen Victoria.Running down each side of the diploma are two pillars with the names of various ships running down their lengths. Sitting at the bottom of the left pillar is Neptune, while Brittanina and alion sits at the bottom of the right pillar. Under the pillars are the lists of the H.M Dockyards along with engraving of cannons in forts and ships. Next the left hand pillars is an image of a wooden sailing boat while a ironclad warship is opposite on the right hand side. The bottom of the diploma shows underwater divers salvaging cannons and fighting off sharks with a miniature portrait of Lord Nelson in the middle. Printed on the botto left edge of the diploma are words “FRANK BADEN-POWELL FECIT”. On the opposite side are the words W.P. GRIFFITH & SONS, LTD, LITH OLD BAILEY, LONDON E.C.”.There is some water damage in the top right corner of the diploma.

Object Details

ID: AAB0612
Collection: Commemorative ephemera
Type: Diploma
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown; W. P. Griffith & Sons Ltd
Places: Bristol
Events: Royal Naval Exhibition, 1891
Vessels: Exhibition
Date made: 1891; Pre 1951 Unknown
People: Nelson, Horatio; Queen Victoria HM Dockyard, Chatham
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: 560 mm x 667 mm x 18 mm