Bidspirit auction | Rare & Early Chinese Armorial

Rare & Early Chinese Armorial Plate Pitt of Dorset - Exceptional and rare Chinese export Imari armorial porcelain plate, Kangxi ca. 1705. The center with the arms of Pitt of Dorset above a stork crest all within flowering branches. Provenance: The family of Thomas Pitt thence by descent; Heirloom & Howard Ltd., 27 August 2003; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Reference: Howard, ”Chinese Armorial Porcelain, ” Vol. I, pg. 176. Lot Essay: This plate, from an exceptionally well executed and rare service, contains the full coat-of-arms of Pitt of Ewerne Stepleton, Dorset. One of three of the earliest known Chinese services decorated with British arms. This service was created for Thomas Pitt, Governor of Fort St. George in the East Indies - known as 'Diamond Pitt' for the 127 carat stone he purchased and sold to the Regent of Orleans, later in the Crown of France. Diameter: 8 1/2 in. Condition: There are no cracks. Several small repaired chips to the rim. Small chips and wear to the footrim. Little surface wear.