Description:
Chinese export porcelain octagonal plate decorated with the arms of the County Durham branch of the Hopper family in iron red, turquoise, black, grey, blue, and gilding; and a gilt double chain border outlined in iron red and a gilt spearhead border with scrolls and dots outlined in iron red around the gilt-edged rim. This chain border was a popular motif that appeared on mid-18th armorial services made for the English market. The crest is described as, "A tower triple towered argent", and the arms, "Gyronny of eight sable and ermine over all a tower, triple towered or." According to David Howard, this branch of the Hooper family lived at Shincliffe in County Durham at least since 1594. John Thomas Hendry Hopper (d.1752) bought the estate of Crook Hall and the Manor of Sidgate in 1720, the Lordship of Thrislington from Sir Thomas Robinson in 1739, and later bought Heugh Hall and Quarrington Grange. Since Hopper died without heirs, he was succeeded by his nephew, John Hopper of Shincliff, who married Elizabeth Hilton in 1752 and had three sons; their second son, Robert, Chancellor of the County Palentine of Durham and Recorder of Newcastle, married Anne Williamson, and from whom is descended the family of Hopper-Williamson. Historic Deerfield owns 32 replacement pieces (HD 86.134) made of English bone china for the original Chinese service. In the course of use many Chinese export porcelain tea and dinner services suffered damage and loss. English porcelain manufacturers specialized in producing replacements for broken or missing pieces of Chinese export porcelain services. Manufacturers such as Spode, Worcester, and Miles Mason provided replacements and additional pieces to large services. For example, in October 1804, Miles Mason advertised himself as one who “through the medium of his wholesale friends, proposes to renew or match the impaired or broken services of the nobility and gentry.” The practicality of using a domestic pottery outweighed the wait and expense of sending to China for additional pieces.
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+86.060 |
