A Coalport slop bowl from the 'Nelson Set Tea Service', circa 1802
Of plain shape and generous size, brightly painted with borders of oak leaves and acorns inside and out, the exterior with four reserves, two painted with the shield, motto and coronet of Lord Nelson flanked by the crests of the San Josef and the chelengk, 16.3cm diam
Footnotes:
Provenance
Vice-Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson
Emma, Lady Hamilton
Viscount Bridport, Christie's, 11 July 1895, lot 53 (part)
Alfred Trapnell Collection

According to the terms of Nelson's will, Emma inherited most of their household china, including the 'Horatia', 'Nelson' and 'Baltic' sets. Eight years after Trafalgar, however, all of her possessions were packed in crates in a warehouse as surety against loans to keep her out of debtor's prison. Various inventories from the time include the Trickey Inventory of 'Plate China Glass &c belonging to Lady Hamilton'. The 'Nelson Set Tea Service' was listed as including '2 Slop basons'.

Many years after Emma's death, the crates of china were still stored by Alderman Smith, until at least 1831. It is then likely that Alderman Smith gave (or sold) the 'Nelson Set' to Samuel Hood, Baron Bridport who had married Nelson's niece, Charlotte, Duchess of Bronte. When the Baron died in 1868, his Nelson relics passed to their son, Alexander Nelson, Viscount Bridport. Thus, what remained of the Nelson Tea Service was sold in Lord Bridport's sale at Christie's on 11 July 1895. In the Christie's sale, lot 53 comprised 'A Helmet-Shaped Milk-Jug; and a Basin' and these sold together for 30 guineas to a buyer named 'Wills'. Only one of the original two basins was included in the Bridport sale, and this suggests the other bowl had, by this time, been broken.

At the time of the Bridport sale, the Nelson breakfast set was believed to be Champion's Bristol porcelain (even though the Bristol factory had closed in 1780). Alfred Trapnell was a prominent collector of Bristol porcelain and will have purchased this, probably from Wills.