Antiques M.S. Rau | Battle Of Trafalgar Bicentennial Silver-Gilt Casket

The Immortal Memory Of Lord Nelson And Those Who Fell With Him — Queen Elizabeth Ii’S Toast On October 21, 2005, At The Official Battle Of Trafalgar Bicentennial Dinner

In 2005, The United Kingdom Marked The Bicentenary Of The Battle Of Trafalgar In Grand Fashion. Celebrations Included Memorable Speeches By Queen Elizabeth Ii, Awe-Inspiring Re-Enactments Of The Renowned Battle And Extraordinary Artwork Commissions. This Silver-Gilt Creation, One Of The Exceptional Commissions To Honor The Bicentennial, Represents An Unprecedented Collaboration Of The Best Artists And Craftsmen Of Their Day. As One Of Only Five Of Its Kind Ever Made, This Remarkable Silver-Gilt Commemorative Casket Immortalizes Lord Horatio Nelson’S Legacy In Captivating Form.

The Objet D’Art Intentionally Evokes A Graceful Wave With Its Artfully Crafted Curved Sides And Bracket Feet. The Front Showcases A Hand-Painted Enamel Portrait Of General Horatio Nelson, Exquisitely Rendered On 18K Gold By Gillie Hoyte Byrom. Turning The Casket Reveals A Compelling Scene Of The Legendary Battle Of Trafalgar Painted By Commander Geoff Hunt. Encased Within A Delicate Rope Twist Border, Each Hand-Painted Miniature Vividly Captures The Intensity And Drama Of The Historic Conflict, Paying Homage To Nelson’S Brilliant Military Prowess. The Interior Of The Box Reveals A Lining Crafted Of Oak Directly From The Famed Hms Victory. Additionally, The Inside Features An Engraved Plaque Transcribing Nelson’S Naval Campaigns, Commemorating His Contributions To The British Navy.

The Battle Of Trafalgar Was Among The Most Decisive Naval Engagements Ever Fought, Not Only In The Napoleonic Wars But Also In All Naval History. At The Outset Of What Would Be His Final Battle, Nelson Caught Sight Of A Franco-Spanish Force Of Thirty-Three Ships And Knew The Deck Was Stacked Against Britain. At A Time When Naval Victories Were Typically Determined By The Sheer Number Of Ships And Guns Present, Nelson Deployed A Completely Innovative Strategy. He Divided His Twenty-Seven Ships Into Two Divisions And Split The Enemy Fleet. By Smashing The Enemy Flagship’S Three-Tiered Galleries, Victory’S Devastating Fire Swept Along The Length Of All Three Gun Decks, Causing Dramatic Damage. Against All Odds, Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson Defeated The Combined French And Spanish Fleets, Thus Solidifying The British Navy As Ruler Of The Seas.

Bears Marks For Richard Jarvis And Ian Calvert, London, 2005

5″ High X 10″ Wide X 7″ Deep