Original Danish Beer Flagon Taken at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The IMA television series “Family Guns” was very well received in Europe and has resulted in countless offerings of very interesting collections of Military interest. This item comes from one of these collections of Maritime Memorabilia from Britain’s past.

A genuine wood beer Flagon taken from the Danish 64 gun Man-o-War HOLSTEIN after capture during this great Naval engagement, Nelson’s second huge victory, known as the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.

His first was the Battle of Aboukir Bay, better known as the Battle of the Nile in 1798 and his final, and most famous engagement of all, which cost him his life, was the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The Danish ship HOLSTEIN after capture was commissioned into the British Navy as H.M.S. NASSAU. It was the fifth Ship in the British Navy, at the time, to be named NASSAU.

In 1806 she was part of a flotilla that captured the Prussian Ship “Jonge Bartels”,”Vissary”, “Nicholi” and “Martha”.

In 1808 together with H.M.S. Stately they captured the Danish Ships “Prins Christian Frederic”, “Industrie” and “Haabet Anker” and in 1809 she captured the French Privateer “Jean Bart”.

In all, a truly impressive record.

In 1810 the NASSAU was converted to a Prison Ship under the command of Lieutenant William Field. She was sold out of service in 1814.

This fabulous flagon tells it’s own story. Typically Danish in design, it is constructed from wooden staves with iron hoops and a large wooden “ear” handle to rear. On the front side there is a prominent decorated brass plaque engraved:

THE HOLSTEIN FLAGON, Taken by the grace of God and the courage of Admiral Nelson

from the Danish Fleet at the Great Battle of Copenhagen, April 2nd. 1801.

Then above this plaque there is a second smaller silver plaque engraved:

Presented to Lt. William Field on his leaving command of the NASSAU November 1814.

Well we all know about the Battle of Copenhagen, and include the an internet research printout, and of the career of Lt. William Field, other than his four years commanding the NASSAU, we have yet to investigate. In 1814 the Nassau was sold out of service so it is understandable that this “Prize Flagon” was given to one of the Ship’s Officers who happened to be it’s Commander.

A fascinating history of an artifact that was present at many Naval engagements.

Standing 16-inches in height and 10-inches across at its widest, this flagon carried a lot of beer!