Description:
Chinese export porcelain soup plate in the Famille rose palette of blue, black, brown, iron red, rose, green, yellow and gilding with the Napier family of Ballikinrany, Scotland, crest "A dexter hand holding an eagle's leg erased in bend proper armed gules" and the motto "NIL VERETUR VERITAS" or "Truth fears nothing"; the bottom rim has the arms, "Argent a saltire engrailed between four roses gules within a bordure of the last." The central well has one of three views of Fort St. George in Madras, India, in a four-lobed panel, all found on an 18th-century engraving by W. Proud and only found on services for the British market. According to David S. Howard, Fort St. George, the pride of the East India Company in India, was a usual port of call between Plymouth, the departure port for ships leaving England, and Whampoa Anchorage, the destination for ships bound for Canton. Fort St. George was among the first few fortifications built by the East India Company in about 1635 to protect its interests in India from rival companies. This fortification also marks the making of Madras (now called Chennai) as a modern city. The fort as it survives today now houses a museum, and within the fort boundaries is the oldest surviving British church in India, St. Mary's Church. The rim has 2 gilt-edged reserves with elements of the 'Valentine' pattern - 'Altar of Love' (2 flaming hearts on an altar, two doves billing on Cupid's quiver, wreath and side curtain) and 'Absent Master' (tree, wreath, dogs, sheep, shepherd's crook, pipes and hat). The 'Valentine' pattern, a combination of pastoral, erotic, and exotic South Seas elements, was originally found on a 1743 dinner service made in Canton for Commodore George Anson (1697-1762). It was probably designed by then First Lieutenant Piercy Brett (1709-1781), Anson's official artist during his 1740-1744 circumnavigation. 'Altar of Love' and 'Absent Master' were independent motifs, remembrances of home, first combined on the 1743 service.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+59.005 |
