A large chest made from the oak salvaged from the Foudroyant, Lord Nelson’s flagship, England, late 19th century
A large chest made from the oak salvaged from the Foudroyant, Lord Nelson’s flagship, England, late 19th century
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REFERENCE: A2119
A large chest made from the oak salvaged from the Foudroyant, Lord Nelson’s flagship. The sides carved with lozenges and fleur de lys and lunette border to top, inscribed along bottom of the front panel 1798 Foudroyant 1898, hinged lid with copper maker’s label, the corner posts stamped ‘Oak’ Salved from the Wreck of Nelson’s Flagship ‘Foudroyant’. What is particularly charming about this chest is how the craftsmen have inserted pieces of the same wood (presumably also from the ship) in order to hide the holes whereby that particular section of wood would have been riveted or interlaced with other sections of wood; the flaws thus being its charm. Even the brass plaque is taken from parts salvaged from the Foudroyant.
HMS Foudroyant was an 80-gun third rate of the Royal Navy, one of only two British-built 80-gun ships of the period (the other was HMS Caesar). Foudroyant was built in the dockyard at Plymouth Dock and launched on 31 March 1798. The Foudroyant served Lord Nelson as his flagship from 6 June 1799 until the end of June 1801.
In June 1897 she was towed to Blackpool and could be visited for a small entrance fee. On 16 June 1897 during a violent storm, she parted a cable and dragging the remaining anchor, went ashore on Blackpool Sands, damaging Blackpool North Pier in the process. The Blackpool lifeboat was able to rescue all 27 of her crew. After vain attempts to refloat her, her guns were removed and she was sold for £200. She finally broke up in the December gales. Craftsmen used flotsam from the wreck to make furniture. One such craftsmen’s company was Goodhall, Lamb & Leighway around 1898 and is listed in Goodall’s catalogue as item no. 10, priced at £19.10.0 (although the design differs to the front). In the last image is a painting entitled ‘Capture of the Guillaume Tell’, 31 March 1800, by Nicholas Pocock where the Foudroyant can be seen centre right.
Condtion: excellent
Dimensions: 75cm high x 143cm wide x 60cm deep