An extremely rare English plate from the service for the Imperial Yacht Queen Victoria, Minton, circa 1845. Of circular form, the borders with bands of cobalt blue relieved by scrolling gilt ornaments, the center of the plate with a polychrome Imperial State seal of the double-headed eagle ‘of the old type’ (with raised wings) above a magenta banner bearing the inscription “The Queen Victoria,” the reverse with “B.B. Newstone” impressed above the retailer’s name “Hick, Bath” in black overglaze. Diameter:10 1/4 in. (25.7 cm).

The Imperial yacht Queen Victoria was ordered from shipbuilder Joseph White in 1844 for Emperor Nicholas I. When it was launched in 1846, it was truly a palace. In addition to this porcelain service ordered at Minton’s (with additions later made at the Imperial Factory in ST Petersburg), the staterooms were paneled in rosewood & bird’s eye maple & overseen by a gilt sculpture of the queen.