Lord Nelson Trafalgar Centenary Brass Portrait Plaque

A fine late 19th / early 20th century commemorative brass portrait plaque depicting Vice- Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. The circular pressed brass plaque depicts Nelson in uniform in a left-facing profile, surrounded by the inscription: 'ADMIRAL LORD NELSON DUKE OF BRONTE & c' The portrait is derived from the celebrated 1805 Trafalgar Medal designed by Conrad Heinrich Küchler for Matthew Boulton's Soho Mint, produced following Nelson's victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. This later decorative version was most likely produced around the turn of the 20th century and is particularly evocative of the considerable revival in Nelson memorabilia surrounding the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1905. The embossed brass portrait is retained within a circular metal bezel and mounted onto its original rectangular ebonised backing, creating a particularly attractive small commemorative display piece. An interesting and highly decorative piece of British naval history, combining the collecting fields of Nelson, Trafalgar, Royal Navy memorabilia and early 20th-century commemorative objects.