The large pockets once inserted at the side of this leather armchair – now sealed up – give a clue to the role of the famous person who once sat on it. The chair’s nickname of ‘The Emma’ is another big hint.
Those pockets are for holding dispatches, and the late 18th century chair was one given by Lady (Emma) Hamilton to her lover, Lord Nelson. It is believed to be Nelson’s favourite armchair in his state cabin on board HMS Victory, his flagship at Trafalgar on October 21, 1815.
On October 18, 202 years later, after a fierce bidding contest inevitably described by the auctioneers at Bonhams (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) as a “Trafalgar-type battle”, it sold for £85,000 against an estimate of £30,000-50,000.