Pair of Chinese Export Armorial Platters – Mathew

Chinese export porcelain platters, circa 1755.
 
Dimensions: Each approximately 14½” x 10½”.
 
Decoration: 
The rim is edged in gold and is decorated with a brown band overlaid with gold vines, bianco-sopra-bianco flowers, and the armorial of Mathew quartering Van Leemput impaling Byam.
 
The cavetto is decorated with a similar brown and gold band. 
 
The center is decorated with a basket of flowers.
 
The reverse of each is undecorated and bears kiln grit.
 
The service is illustrated and discussed in Howard, “Chinese Armorial Porcelain”, Vol. 1., at p. 287.
 
These platters have a close connection to Britain’s West Indies colonies. Colonel Abednego Mathew was Governor of St. Kitts in the Leeward Islands. His son William became Captain General and Lord High Admiral of the Windward and Leeward Islands and married Catherine Baroness Van Leemput, a descendant of the standard-bearer to Holy Roman Emperor Maxmillian I. Their son Daniel married Mary Byam, daughter of George Byam of Antiqua in 1755. It is likely that this service was made for their wedding.
 
Condition: Minor wear to gilding and enamels; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.
 
Please note, I do NOT issue partial refunds. If you believe that my description is not accurate, I will refund your purchase price upon receipt of the item in the same condition as it was sent under the terms of the return policy in this listing.
 
I also do not ship to post office boxes.