A CHINESE EXPORT ARMORIAL PLATE circa 1780

the center painted in gilt-heightened brown monochrome with the crowned Imperial Russian double-headed eagle and arms of Empress Catherine II, the cavetto with a delicate iron-red and gilt cable band and the rim bordered with a floral garland entwined with a purple ribbon within a gilt line around the edge.

Sold, Sotheby's, New York, January 25, 1989, lot 392

San Francisco, Fall Antiques Show, 1005

Minute footrim chip, wear to gilding mostly on edge.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catherine II ("The Great"), who reigned alone from 1762 to 1796, was an empress devoted to magnificence and averse to self-denial.  In her determination to dine luxuriously, she had a number of dinner services made, most notably the two Imperial Russian services produced by Wedgwood in 'Queen's Ware' (creamware): the 'Husk Service' commissioned in 1770, and the 'Frog Service' commissioned in 1773 and completed in 1774 for the Palace of La Grenouillère at Tsarskoë Selo, St. Petersburg, an extraordinary Sèvres porcelain service completed circa 1779; and the two Chinese Export porcelain services: the earlier for which the preceding plate was made, and the present neoclassical service.

A plate from this service is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, Vol. II, p. 455, no. 461; and a soup plate is illustrated by Marvin C. Ross, Russian Porcelains, p. 411, pl. 139.  Another plate with a reticulated rim is illustrated and discussed by Le Corbeiller 1973, p. 70, no. 54, and by Le Corbeiller 1974, p. 113, fig. 60.  A reticulated oval dish, presumably the stand for a basket, was sold at Christie's in New York on January 23, 2008, lot 186.