Evidently, Linwood was quick off the mark with his Nelson vinaigrettes as this example - like others seen in the salerooms in recent times - was hallmarked in the year of Britain's most famous maritime victory.
A Linwood vinaigrette engraved with a half-length portrait of Nelson and the legend England Expects Every Man Will Do His Duty sold at Gorringes of Lewes in July for £2700. However this one, offered by Woodford auctioneers Maxwells (15% buyer's premium) on January 21, was very close to the example, with its ship portrait in a roundel, sold at Byrne's of Chester for £2400 on October 2003. All of which made the £180-250 estimate appear very conservative and the final bid of £1740 a relative bargain. The other lot of real note from this Cheshire sale was a Wedgwood fairyland lustre Candlemass pattern vase decorated with Daisy Makeig-Jones' usual display of ghouls and goblins and standing 7 1/2in (18cm) high. It sold at £2300.
