175 - ALEXANDER DAVISON - A DESCRIPTION OF A PIECE OF PLATE FOR LORD NELSON, AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 1798

ALEXANDER DAVISON - A DESCRIPTION OF A PIECE OF PLATE FOR LORD NELSON, AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 1798 manuscript written in a secretarial hand, 2 pages, undated but after the Battle of the Nile in August 1798, a description of a piece of plate presented by Alexander Davison Esq to Admiral Lord Nelson, 4to, the design included “...three Lions copied from the celebrated Egyptian Lions at Rome...are emblematic of British Generosity and Valour, at the same time that they allude to the Country where the Victory was obtained...over this Ornament is designed a Wreath of Laurels in Nine Compartments, each encircling the Name of the several Ships taken by the Admiral in his Victory...The whole of this Column is crowned with the Representations of the Arms Aigrette...having on the Top a Grand Statue of Britannia Triumphant” Provenance: Sotheby's London: Nelson: The Alexander Davison Collection, 21 October 2002, lot 15 Alexander Davison (1750-1829), was one of Nelson's closest friends and was responsible for many of the public monuments that glorified Nelson's image, such as the commemorative medal for his victory at the Nile, as well as private assistance, lending funds for Nelson to buy Merton House and helping his family after Nelson's death. If completed, presumably by Rundell & Bridge, Davison's preferred goldsmiths, the current location of this impressive trophy is not known. A duplicate of this description of a piece of silver commissioned and presented by Davison to Nelson after the Battle of the Nile is in the National Maritime Museum (IDN; CRK/3/GEN/D/1-41).