CIRCA 1908 - 1910 - ANTIQUE EDWARDIAN FLOW BLUE ROYAL NAVY IN SOUTH AFRICA

A RARE AND SIGNIFICANT FIND!   GIVING YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO A SPECIFIC MESS IN THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY WAS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS AND STATUS-RELATED AFFAIR - SO MUCH SO THAT MEMBERS WERE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN THEIR OWN DINNERWARE (WITH MESS NUMBER AND USED STRICTLY ONLY BY MEMBERS OF THEIR PARTICULAR MESS). THESE PLATES ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND SOUGHT-AFTER TODAY - SOME HAVING BEEN SALVAGED FROM WRECKS AND NOT OFTEN FOUND DAMAGE-FREE. NOT SURE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PARTICULAR FLOW BLUE PLATE - HAS THE MARKING 'H&T' IN DOUBLE RINGED OVAL ON BASE AND IS 24.5CM IN DIAMETER.  IT DOES HAVE A FINE HAIRLINE CRACK AND AGE-RELATED CRAZING. DEPICTS THE 'OLD HEAD' OF EDWARD VII AND MADE BETWEEN 1908 AND 1910. A GREAT ACQUISITION FOR AN ANTIQUE  PORCELAIN OR MILITARIA COLLECTOR!  REFER IMAGES