Admiral Lord Nelson's silver dish to serve up £400,000
A PIECE from a silver service awarded to Admiral Lord Nelson is expected to sell for £400,000.
The entree dish was given to the British Naval hero as part of a 22-piece collection to reward him for his victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. At the time it cost £500 – the equivalent of £50,000 today.
After Nelson’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 the service was shared between his mistress, Emma Lady Hamilton, and his siblings.
The 12-inch dish was given to his sister Susannah and has not been seen in public since an exhibition in 1891. A descendant has now decided to sell it.
Martyn Downer, director of My Family Silver, who are displaying the item at the Olympia International Art and Antiques Fair in London, said: “It is an important piece of history and it is the rarest and greatest piece of silver Nelson owned.”
It is on show at the fair from today.