Object Type
This vase is an example of presentation silver which could have been displayed on the dining table during a very grand dinner or formed part of a massed group of silver ewers, basins and cups on a dining-room buffet. The buffet as a decorative element in the dining room had regained favour in the late 18th century.
People
The Patriotic Fund, a group of businessmen concerned to reward bravery in the Napoleonic War, held a competition to determine the design of the awards of swords, medals and vases. It was won by John Shaw's design for a vase. He received the top award of 50 guineas, but the artist and sculptor John Flaxman later modified the design for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the Royal Goldsmiths who had been commissioned to supply the vases. This vase was made by the silversmiths Benjamin Smith and Digby Scott, who managed Rundell's workshop from 1801 to 1807.
Design
The overall form of the vase was copied from that of the Greek volute krater. Examples of this antique vessel used for mixing wine and water were well known from illustrations and from the collection of Sir William Hamilton, which was bought and displayed by the British Museum in 1772. The figure of Britannia on one side of the vase ultimately derives from ancient Greek images of the goddess Athena, while on the other, the warrior slaying the serpent must be intended to represent the Greek hero Herakles destroying the Hydra. Numerous parallels exist in classical art for both reliefs, and the sophisticated reworking of the iconography suggests that John Flaxman was responsible for the designs. The vases cost between œ35 and œ651, depending on the size and elaboration of the ornament. The most expensive (œ651 5s) was awarded to Admiral Lord Nelson's widow. As this vase was not inscribed it is quite likely that it was never awarded.
Physical description
A silver vase and cover, with two high handles, decorated with Tudor roses and ropes. On one side of the body in relief is Britannia holding a victory, with the inscription Britannia Triumphant and on the other Hercules slaying the hydra with the legend Britons SWtrike Home. The lower portion of the body and the foot are decorated with a band of acanthus leaves and acorns and the rim has a floral scroll border within ropes. Round the neck of the cover is surmounted by a lion is a band of laurel wreaths and berries.
[Vase] The urn-shaped vase has two vertically scrolled, floret-paterai handles applied and mounted against foliate sprays. On the neck of the vase is an applied band of laurel set against a matt ground. On the shoulder is a chased floral scroll pattern. Below the shoulder is a double band of rope-work containing a scrolling band of flowers and foliage against a matt ground. On one side of the vase is an applied, cast and chased figure of Britannia, holding in her extended right hand the figure of Victory bearing a crown of laurel, and in her left hand a palm branch and a shield charged with a British Lion. This is accompanied by the inscription 'BRITANNIA TRIUMPHANT'. On the other side is a figure of a Greek warrior fighting a three-headed serpent. The figure is bearded and muscular. He wears a cloak and a Corinthian helmet and wields a short sword. It is clearly meant to represent Hercules slaying the Lernaean Hydra. It is accompanied by the inscription 'BRITONS STRIKE HOME'. Beneath the figures is an applied band of foliage, alternating oak sprays with water leaves.
Leslie Southwick, 'The Silver vases awarded by the Patriotic Fund', The Silver Society Journal, Winter 1990, pp. 27-49
[cover (closure)] The engraved cover has a gadrooned rim, surmounted by the figure of a lion in the round stalking an imaginary prey.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1805-1806 (made)
Artist/maker
Scott, Digby (maker)
Smith, Benjamin (II), born 1764 - died 1823 (maker)
Shaw, John (designer)
Flaxman, John (R.A.), born 1755 - died 1826 (designer)
Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (manufacturer)
Materials and Techniques
Silver
Marks and inscriptions
London hallmarks for 1805-1806
Mark of Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith for Rundell, Bridge and Rundell
Inscribed on the body: BRITONS STRIKE HOME / BRITANNIA TRIUMPHANT
[Vase] 'BRITANNIA TRIUMPHANT'
[Vase] 'BRITONS STRIKE HOME'
[Vase] 'DS' over 'BS'
[Vase] 'K' date letter
[Vase] Lion passant sterling standard
[Vase] Leopard's head crowned mark for London
[Vase] Head of George IV
[cover (closure)] 'DS' over 'BS'
[cover (closure)] 'K' date letter
[cover (closure)] Lion passant sterling standard
[cover (closure)] '155-14' scratch weight?
[cover (closure)] '22869'
Dimensions
Height: 17 in, Width: 10.25 in
[Vase] Height: 43 cm, Diameter: 23.5 cm
[cover (closure)] Height: 17 cm, Diameter: 23 cm
Object history note
Designed by John Shaw (1776-1832); made by Digby Scott (active in London 1802-1811) and Benjamin Smith II (1764-1823); modified by John Flaxman (1755-1826); made for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, London
Bond Collection - Joseph Bond
Design reworked by John Flaxman. Presentation Cup originally funded by Lloyds Patriotic Fund to some of captains at war esp. Trafalgar.
Royal Goldsmiths Exhibition RF.2005/25
Classical Ideal Exhibition RF.2009/1012
Historical context note
Lloyd's Patriotic Fund was founded on 20th July, 1803, when a meeting was held of merchants, underwriters and other subscribers to Lloyd's at which it weas resolved: "That to animate the efforts of our defenders by sea and land, it is expedient to raise by the patriotism of the community at large a suitable fund for their comfort and relief ..... and for the granting of pecuniary rewards or honourable badges of distiction, for successful exertions of valour or merit."
Under the above resolution, vases were presented and the inscription on those presented to the Captains of vessels at Trafalgar was as follows:
"From the Patriotic Fund at Lloyds to ... Esq., Captain of H.M.S. ... for his meritorious services in contributing to the signal victory obtained over the combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar on 21st October 1805." Sixty six vases were made in all. Seven were undelivered.
Descriptive line
The Trafalgar Vase, silver, London hallmarks for 1805-6, mark of Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith II for Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, designed by John Shaw with modifications by John Flaxman A.R.A.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Leslie Southwick, "The Silver Vases Awarded by the Patriotic Fund" in The Silver Society Journal, Winter 1990
Turner, Eric English Silver from 1660, London, HMSO, 1985 p.24. ill. ISBN. 0112904122
V&A introductions to the decorative arts.
Exhibition History
English Silver from the 16th to the 20th Century (Muzej Primenjene Umetnosti 01/09/1980-31/10/1980)
English Silver from the 16th to the 20th Century (The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts 01/10/1977-31/01/1978)
English Silver from the 16th to the 20th Century (The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts 01/10/1977-31/01/1978)
The Classical Ideal - English Silver 1760-1840 (Koopman Rare Art 03/06/2010-25/06/2010)
Royal Goldsmiths: The Art of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell 1797-1803 (Koopman/Rare Arts 14/06/2005-01/07/2005)
Labels and date
Designed by John Flaxman R.A. this piece (which was not in fact awarded) was one of a number of vases made between 1804 and 1809 by Scott & Smith and Paul Storr, then all working for Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, for presentation by Lloyd's Patriotic Fund to the captain of some of the ships at the battle of Trafalgar ...
Gallery 121 case 8
British Galleries:
From 1803 to 1809, the Patriotic Fund rewarded bravery shown in the Napoleonic War. Most of the 73 vases made were given to naval officers. Fifteen were awarded to captains of the fleet after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. [27/03/2003]
Associated Events
Battle of Trafalgar
Production Note
The original designs for the Patriotic Fund vase have not survived, and the original designer is not known. Rundell's were given the commission to make them, 'conformable to the Design approved by the Committee' after a competition. In due course Rundell's asked Flaxman to modify the winning design into a practical object. (Leslie Southwick, 'The Silver vases awarded by the Patriotic Fund', The Silver Society Journal, Winter 1990, pp. 27-49)
Materials
Sterling silver
Techniques
Engraving (incising); Chasing
Subjects depicted
Acanthus; Lion; Scroll-work; Berries; Hercules; Britannia; Victory; Acorns; Laurel wreaths; Tudor roses; Rope-work; Hydra; Cape Trafalgar
Categories
British Galleries; Metalwork; Ceremonial objects
Collection code
MET
