English Sheffield Plate entrée dish warmer probably by Nathaniel Smith & Co. (Circa 1784), impressed number 2 and crested on both sides for Horatio Nelson’s brother, William, 1st Earl Nelson (1757-1835).
The engraved crests are: The San Josef crest with ‘FAITH AND WORKS’, awarded after Nelson’s 1797 victory in capturing the Spanish ship San Jose. Nelson’s Chelengk crest, a diamond plume (above a naval crown) presented after his 1801 victory at the Battle of the Nile and an Earl’s coronet surmounted by a ducal coronet for William, 1st Earl Nelson and 2nd Duke of Bronte (1757-1835) . Sheffield Plate marks of a hand in a rectangular cartouche were used by Smith & Co. (1784) and Smith, Tate, Nicholson & Hoult (1810). Interestingly it has had 4 holes (now sealed) in the base- which shows possible use at sea where a heated iron slug rather than hot water was used.
Provenance- Given to the last owner as a present from Dr Richard Pearson (naval doctor) when he was 100 in 2006. His wife Cynthia had inherited it from their ancestor John Backhouse (1784-1845). Backhouse was private secretary to prime minister George Canning and then permanent under-secretary to the Foreign Office.
Dimensions: 34.6 cm across the handles by 20.5 cm deep by 8.9 cm high.