A VERY RARE SENNIT HAT TALLY COMMEMORATING LORD DUNCAN, CIRC...

Hammer

£2,130

A VERY RARE SENNIT HAT TALLY COMMEMORATING LORD DUNCAN, CIRCA 1797

woven in contrasting silver thread and embroidered in blue silk KING & CONSTIN. / LORD DUNCAN & / BRITISH NAVY / FOR EVER, mounted in a later glazed wooden case, the tally -- 2 x 24in. (5 x 61cm.); case 7½ x 31½ (19 x 80cm.)

Whilst naval uniform for flag rank had been introduced in the RN since 1747, the crews took rather longer and traditionally the purser had a mixed supply of 'slops' which sailors could improve to their taste. Wealthy captains and admirals who chose to could fit their regular barge crews with privately designed and issued uniforms. A typical barge might have a dozen or so crew and it's possible one of the better-off Captain's from Duncan's famous victory at Camperdown wanted to mark his attendance to the Admiral's flagship in a way guaranteed to attract attention. No other example has been identified suggesting this could be a unique survivor. The embroidered inscription has been done by hand (the Jacquard loom was still forty years away) to a very high professional standard.