Original British Napoleonic Pewter Salver marked H.M.S. NORTHUMBERLAND 1798 – Transported Napoleon to St. Helena Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice British Napoleonic era pewter salver or serving platter, measuring 17″ in diameter, with a depth of about 1 inch. It is clearly marked H.M.S NORTHUMBERLAND 1798 on the top, indicating service on this vessel during the Napoleonic Wars. This would be used in the officer’s mess while serving meals.

The top of the dish is also marked with Pewter Hallmarks, which look to be a “Centaur with a Bow”, a “Lion”, and an “Eagles Head”. These were used by makers to imitate the hallmarks used on silverware, however they are quite difficult to decipher, and we have not been able to link these markings to a maker.

The rear of the dish is marked with the CROWN / X proof mark for “Hard Metal” ware, an alloy of ten parts of tin to one of lead. This is the correct marking for this era and type of flatware. Below this is a starburst that looks to read COMPTON / LONDON, possibly the maker. To the center is the “Crowned Rose”, the Pewter Standard mark for London.

A very nice Napoleonic Wars Era salver serving platter, offered in fine matured condition and ready to display!

History of the H.M.S. Northumberland-

HMS Northumberland was an American class 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the British Royal Navy, measuring 182 feet in length on the gundeck. She was ordered from Barnard at Deptford on 10 June 1795. The ship was laid down during  October 1795 and launched 2 February 1798.

She took part in the 1801 Egyptian Campaign under Nelson, the Battle Of Santa Domingo in 1806, and multiple other Naval Engagements during the Napoleonic Wars. Most famously she is remembered for transporting Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte To St. Helena and exile in 1816.

Northumberland was converted to a hulk in February 1827. She returned to Deptford to be broken up in 1850.