A CHINESE EXPORT ARMORIAL PLATE, QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD, CIRCA 1720

Henry Moog, Atlanta

For the arms, see David Sanctuary Howard, Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Vol. I, London, 1974, p. 184, B9. The present example was ordered for Thomas Pitt, eventual Earl of Londonderry, and second son of Thomas Pitt. The senior Thomas Pitt was known to have sold "The Pitt Diamond", the most precious stone in the Crown of France, to the Regent of Orleans. An example from his service is also included in this sale. 

The owner of this service was created Baron of Londonderry in 1719 and advanced to Earldom of Londonderry in 1726. David Howard discusses, ibid., p. 44, that the color of the velvet on the coronet, rendered using iron-red mixed or overpainted with brown or black, to appear crimson. The author argues that this may prove rose enamel was not known before 1720, as the order for the service could hardly have reached China before July 1720, less than one year after Thomas Pitt was created Baron.