This Victory copper ashtray is made from metal salvaged from HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Such pieces were produced as commemorative items, allowing fragments of the famous warship to be preserved and shared long after her active service.

Launched in 1765, HMS Victory was a first-rate ship of the line, carrying 104 guns across three decks. She is best remembered for her role at Trafalgar, where Nelson secured a decisive victory against the French and Spanish fleets. Today, she remains the world’s oldest naval ship still in commission as the flagship of the First Sea Lord. Over the centuries, however, repairs and restorations have required the removal of original material, much of which was repurposed into souvenirs such as ashtrays, boxes, and plaques. In this way, the ship has been both preserved and commemorated.

Objects like this reflect the strong culture of naval commemoration in the 19th and 20th centuries, when materials from historic ships were often repurposed into keepsakes or presentation pieces. They offered a tangible link to Britain’s naval heritage and its most celebrated battles.

This object was scanned in situ at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre.

*The underneath of the object was recreated in Blender*