Chinese Export Armorial Covered Vegetable Dish & Liner c. 1800 – Timins

Chinese export covered vegetable dish in imari palette with matching liner, c. 1800.
 
 
Dimensions: Approximately 14” x 8” x 7½” overall including handles and knop.
 
Decoration: 
The lid is bordered with a blue and gold geometric patterned band and has an iron red and gilded knop, and is decorated with alternating panels of iron red, blue, and gold arabesques and iron red and gold floral sprays.
 
The lid bears two crests, which according to Howard in “Chinese Armorial Porcelain”, Vol. 1, at p. 782, is correct.
 
The primary pattern on the body and the liner is of bamboo, peonies, and the sacred mushroom. 
 
The body also has two crests.
 
The body’s handles are enameled in iron red with a gilded pattern.
 
The liner is edged with the same blue and gold band as the lid.
 
The reverse is unmarked.
 
Each piece has a collection reference mark “LH-4”.
 
According to Howard, the service may have been made for a Captain Timins, who could have been C.S. Timins, Royal Navy, of Oriel Lodge, Cheltenham.
 
Condition: Minor staining to interior of liner; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage.