circa 1740, possibly Gardiner, the arms painted with a chevron, two eagles' heads above three escallops, and griffin passant, surmounted with helmet and anchor, rim with scrolling foliate sprays, gilt highlights throughout, 9 in.

Note: "No arms are recorded as (or very similar to) this, but a number of branches of the Gardiner family bear A chevron between three griffins' heads and one branch has three escallops o the chevron. However, no Gardiner bears an anchor as a crest - nor is this crest apparently recorded.

It might be that these arms were assumed by a seafaring man of the name of Gardiner, the only likely person of any note being Captain Arthur Gardiner, RN, born about 1716, who later served under Admiral Byng (and unwillingly gave testimony against him at his trial in 1767/7), but this is purely speculation. He died in the action in which the Foudroyant was captured off the Spanish coast in 1758."

Illustrated in Chinese Armorial Porcelain Volume II, David S. Howard, Heirloom & Howard, Ltd., Wiltshire, UK, 2003, p. 356.

Provenance: Christopher M. Weld, Essex, Massachusetts

scratching, some loss/wear to paint and gilt decoration, spotting, anomalies (as made), small spot with glaze loss, chipping to foot ring, label to base