.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The label to the underside of this table suggests an interesting history as having been constructed from the timber of the famous San Josef flagship (formerly San José).
The San José, a 120-gun three-decked Spanish first-rate battleship, formed part of the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, when she flew the flag of Rear Admiral Don Francisco Winthuysen. Heavy British broadsides badly damaged her in the fighting where over 150 of her crew were killed and wounded, including her admiral who lost both legs and was carried below to die.
At the height of the action, the San José was rammed by the 80-gun San Nicolas and the two ships became locked together. It was at this point that Admiral Nelson made his famous move, leading a boarding party onto the San Nicolas and capturing her by storm. The crew of the San José tried to help their comrades but were in turn assailed by Nelson's men whereby they surrendered.
Thereafter, the San José became active in the service of the Royal Navy as HMS San Josef - the only foreign first rate battleship ever to do so. Her first service was as Nelson's flagship in the Channel in January 1801. Her association with Nelson meant that she was preserved long after her useful life was over. She lasted until 1849 and, when she was finally broken up, much of her wood was made into furniture and other relics.
The handwritten note makes reference to another table of this form that was commissioned by Admiral Nelson for his celebrated mistress Lady Emma Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton, the British envoy at Naples. After Sir William's death in 1803, Emma and Nelson married and lived together in a small house in Merton, Surrey. A drawing by Thomas Baxter depicts a card party at Merton with Lady Hamilton, Nelson's nephew Horatio Nelson and four young women. In this picture, the round table at which they sit is described as being Nelson's and may be the one referred to on the label. This drawing is part of an album entitled 'Original Drawings by Thomas Baxter of Lady Hamilton, Nelson's Home, Merton etc...1802-1805' in the Walter Collection at the National Maritime Museum, London (F4109-18). Merton was sold in 1808 as part of the settlement of Nelson's estate. It was demolished in 1846.
The San José, a 120-gun three-decked Spanish first-rate battleship, formed part of the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, when she flew the flag of Rear Admiral Don Francisco Winthuysen. Heavy British broadsides badly damaged her in the fighting where over 150 of her crew were killed and wounded, including her admiral who lost both legs and was carried below to die.
At the height of the action, the San José was rammed by the 80-gun San Nicolas and the two ships became locked together. It was at this point that Admiral Nelson made his famous move, leading a boarding party onto the San Nicolas and capturing her by storm. The crew of the San José tried to help their comrades but were in turn assailed by Nelson's men whereby they surrendered.
Thereafter, the San José became active in the service of the Royal Navy as HMS San Josef - the only foreign first rate battleship ever to do so. Her first service was as Nelson's flagship in the Channel in January 1801. Her association with Nelson meant that she was preserved long after her useful life was over. She lasted until 1849 and, when she was finally broken up, much of her wood was made into furniture and other relics.
The handwritten note makes reference to another table of this form that was commissioned by Admiral Nelson for his celebrated mistress Lady Emma Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton, the British envoy at Naples. After Sir William's death in 1803, Emma and Nelson married and lived together in a small house in Merton, Surrey. A drawing by Thomas Baxter depicts a card party at Merton with Lady Hamilton, Nelson's nephew Horatio Nelson and four young women. In this picture, the round table at which they sit is described as being Nelson's and may be the one referred to on the label. This drawing is part of an album entitled 'Original Drawings by Thomas Baxter of Lady Hamilton, Nelson's Home, Merton etc...1802-1805' in the Walter Collection at the National Maritime Museum, London (F4109-18). Merton was sold in 1808 as part of the settlement of Nelson's estate. It was demolished in 1846.