George III Silver Bosun’s Pipe and Chain on H.M.S. Victory Oak, 1796

This turned commemorative oak bowl is of deep cylindrical form applied with a silver shield-shaped plaque inscribed ‘H.M.S. Royal George. (108 Guns) Capsised 29th Augst. 1782. This P...

This small oval George III silver salver is raised on four scroll feet with a plain field and curvetto within a triple reed border. The reverse is engraved ‘June 18th 1803 Valentine Munden’s Prize Money when on board the Exeter East Indiaman for the Capture of the French Frigate La Medée.’ Maker’s mark of John Crouch & Thomas Hannam, London 1792. The naval action took place on the 4th of August 1800 off the coast of Brazil. On that morning, the Royal Navy escort, Belliqueux sighted a squadron of French frigates and, giving chase, captured the largest ship La Concorde whilst the East Indiamen, Exeter and Bombay Castle pursued and took the surrender of La Medée. The Coutts and Neptune were unsuccessful in capturing a third frigate La Franchaise, but the action stands out as the only occasion during the Napoleonic Wars when a merchant vessel captured a French ship of war...