BBC - A History of the World - Object : Admiral Nelson's Worcester Teapot

Contributed by Worcester Porcelain Museum

Admiral Nelson’s Teapot 1805 © Worcester Porcelain Museum

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The bill for Nelson's extravagant Worcester breakfast service arrived 1 week after his state funeral.In August 1802, the 19th century celebrities, Admiral Nelson and his mistress the beautiful Emma Hamilton (followed by husband Sir William Hamilton and an admiring crowd) visited Chamberlains Worcester china works and spent more than an hour touring all the factory departments. Nelson was full of admiration and ordered an extravagant breakfast, dinner and dessert service. The costly set was to be hand decorated in rich Imari colours and gold, and emblazoned with Nelsons full coat of arms with his newly received honours. When Nelson died at Trafalgar in October 1805 Chamberlain had only delivered part of the order and the huge bill for Ã?Â£120, ten shillings and six pence was rather insensitively sent to Emma Hamilton only one week after the hero's great state funeral in January 1806. Emma's extravagant lifestyle soon whittled away her fortune and the Worcester Horatia service was dispersed. Today pieces turn up all over the world.

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