SMALL CHINESE EXPORT OVAL PLATTER

Jaiquing, Circa 1800

The platter bears the Arms of the Honorable East India Company, “Auspicio Regis Et Senatus Anglae”.

"By the Command of the King and Parliament of England"

-Motto of the East India Company

11" x 9"

$2,500.00

Close Up of Arms

Additional Information:

The arms, which are copied from the bookplate of the Company (Viner Collection, no. 1303) inscribed ‘Secretary Office’, are of “The New East India Company”, Argent a cross gules, in the dexter chief quarter and escutcheon of the arms of France and England quarterly regally crowned or; each supporting a banner, erect argent charged with a cross gules; and the motto of the Company ‘Auspicio Regis et senatus Angliae’.

The New East India Company—usually known as ‘The Honorable East India Company’—was established by Act of Parliament in 1698 and united with an older East India Company (incorporated by Queen Elizabeth in 1600, which bore different arms) in 1709. It is quite possible that this service commemorated the centenary. The service was used by the Company in India, at Bombay and Madras, and it is known that a number of Governors took parts of the service back to England at the end of their tenure of office.