An impressive pair of Davenport terracotta wine coolers, circa 1800-1810
Moulded in high relief with a handsome half-length portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, the reverse with a group of naval trophies, flanked by fruiting oak branches, with boldly modelled dolphin head handles, 26.5cm high, impressed 'Davenport' and anchor marks (2)
Footnotes:
A similar Nelson wine cooler but with satyr mask handles, is illustrated by T A Lockett, Davenport Pottery and Porcelain (1972), p.41, described by the author as 'exceedingly rare'. Another pair is in Henry Willett's Collection of Popular Pottery, currently exhibited at the V&A Museum. A single example was sold in Bonhams 'Nelson and the Royal Navy' sale, 18 October 2005, lot 65A.