soup-plate BM-Franks.833.+

Period:Qing dynasty Production date:1746-1750 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, painted,
Subjects:heraldry
Dimensions:Diameter: 22.50 centimetres

Description:
‘Famille rose’ soup plate with an English coat of arms, Davis of Enfield in Middlesex, “Per bend sinister ermine and ermines a lion rampant regardant erminois, on a chief azure three mullets of six points argent”, woth Southerne of Fitts in pretence, “Gules on a bend argent three eagles displayed sable”; the crest of Davis, “A demi wolf rampant regardant and erazed azure ducally collared and chained or holding in the paws a mullet as in the arms”. In the centre of this soup plate are a pair of pheasants perched on rocks with giant peonies in the background. On the rim at the top is a family crest and at the bottom a coat of arms with a helmet with elaborate surrounding plumes, a ribbon left blank for the motto, and scrollwork; to the left is a panel depicting two dogs, two crooks, bagpipes and a bonnet beneath a garlanded tree, with a flock of sheep in the background; to the right another panel with a brazier with two flaming hearts, a pair of loving doves and a bow and quiver with a tree and floral festoons. The coat is of Davis of Enfield in Middlesex, granted to Davis of London and Westminster, 1746. William Davis was Assistant Governor of Bengal and married about 1738 Anne, the sole heiress of John Southerne of Fitts in Shropshire.
IMG


Comments:See also Franks.831+, BM Franks.763+, BM Franks.765+ and BM Franks.824+. Harrison-Hall 1994:The arms and crest have been identified as those of William Davis of London and Westminster, a one-time Assistant Governor of Bengal, whose arms were granted in 1746 (Howard, 1974, p.320). The pastoral and romantic motifs in the two rim panels are known as the ‘Absent Master’ and the ‘Altar of Love’. These motifs were first seen on a dinner service created for the great English seaman, Commodore Anson, in 1743 (see also BM Franks 831) and were probably designed by his draughtsman, Peircy Brett. A dinner plate from the present service is in a private collection.