Description:
Chinese export porcelain octagonal plate decorated with the coat of arms of Wood of Copmanthorpe in yellow, rose, green, orange, iron red, black, blue, and gilding. The crest, "An oak tree proper charged with acorns or," is at the top of the rim. The arms are in the center well, described as "Azure, three woodman proper, each armed with a club over the right shoulder, and a shield in front argent, thereon a cross gules, head and waist encircled with a wreath vert, all standing on the ground." Several branches of the Wood family share similar coats of arms. According to David Howard, this service was probably made for Richard Wood, a supercargo in the East India Company and a Member of the Council at Canton in 1756 and 1760. Richard Wood served at the same time as his distant relation, Francis Wood (1728-1795), who was first sent to Canton as a supercargo in the East India Company in 1758 and also ordered porcelain services. However, the entry for a Christie's London sale for what appears to be pieces from this same service states: "This service was proably made for John Wood of Copmanthorpe and Hollin Hall, who assumed the name of Boynton and inherited Hollin Hall in 1757. The service is also referred to in a letter in 'Country Life,' 20 April 1968, showing details of the 'woodmen' depicted in the arms, which was taken from one of the punchbowls. On John Wood's death in 1778, Hollin Hall was inherited by his younger brother, Richard Wood, who may well have brought the service back from China, since he was a supercargo in the East India Company and a Member of the Council at Canton in 1756 and 1760." The rim has three large flower sprays with yellow, rose, iron red, and blue flowers and green leaves alternating with four small sprigs; the curvature has an iron-red edged gilt diamond and double chain border that is interrupted at the top of the plate by the oak crest; and the center well has the shaped arms, with the three men in loincloths with clubs, surrounded by green leafy garland with rose and blue flowers.
Subjects:
Pottery; Enamel and enameling; glaze (coating by location); polychrome; Porcelain Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+65.221 |
