A Chinese famille-rose 'armorial' part dinner service Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period

with the arms of Murray of Glendoick, created Baronets in 1678, quartering those of Hepburn, each piece painted with armorial panels surmounted by a crest of a hand holding aloft a mask against a gilt and black monogram within a diaper ground, comprising: two coffee cups and a saucer, one chipped, one haircracked; three tea bowls, one haircracked; a hexagonal shaped teapot stand; three occtagonal plates in graduated sizes, one rivetted and one cracked; and forty-two octagonal plates, two chipped, two rivetted, three haircracked and some rubbing overall, four badly damaged

Possibly acquired or commissioned by Sir Patrick Hepburn Murray, 4th Bt. of Glendoick, Blackcastle & Balmanno (1706-1756);
His daughter Mary Hepburn Murray of Glendoick, Blackcastle & Balmanno (inherited her brothers estates 1774 and one assumes this service);
Her son Alexander Hepburn Murray Belsches of Invermay (d.1864);
Thence to his cousin Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes of Pitsligo and Fettercairn (1804-1866)

There are two chips to the rim for one coffee cup. For one of the tea bowls, there is a tiny chip to the rim and one short hairline crack. For one saucer dish, there is a hairline crack to the rim. The largest occtagonal plate has a hairline crack and one chip. The other larger occtagonal plate is broken in half and restored with rivets. Four of the octagonal plates are broken, two are restored with rivets, eight have chips around the edges, four have nicks to the corners, and four have hairline cracks. There is overall wear to the enamel and gilding for all.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Chinese export services in the collection are fascinating, they seem to suggest that many important families would have owned one. The omission of one featuring the arms of Forbes is curious. Interestingly there is a bill from Gavin Beugo, a heraldic and decorative painter in Edinburgh, from 1788 to Sir William Forbes, 6th Bt. Beugo writes on his receipt 'painting in watercolour two arms & supporters for China'. What 'china' these watercolours of the Forbes arms were intended for is impossible to say, however it is tempting to think these may have been produced for a copyist to translate onto an export service either overseas or for use on a European service produced closer to home. It does illustrate that Sir William was contemplating or perhaps acquired his own armorial service now lost, at a time when he inherited the Baronetage of Pitsligo and new armorials after 1781.