Cream jug, Qianlong c.1750, with the arms of Wilkinson
The arms are of Wilkinson of Hilcote Hall in Derbyshire. John Wilkinson, whose father purchased Hilcote Hall, and died in 1706, was an only son, and dying himself in 1725 left an heir, John, and a third son Stephen, born in 1719.
The elder son, John, born about 1703, married Hannah Oldridge and had two surviving sons, of whom the younger, Stephen, inherited Hilcote. He was born in 1732, left an only son John and died in 1774.
Stephen, born in 1719, who died in 1793, had five sons of whom two were in the East India Company, and also six daughters, of whom Frances married a Captain Winter of the East India Company. A service of c.1770 with the crest of Winter and initials N.W. is thought to have possibly been made for this Captain Winter since the shape of the cartouche is very similar to that of the Wilkinson service.
This service of c.1750 was probably made for John of Hilcote Hall, born in 1703, or his brother Stephen, born 1719.
Provenance: The Weld Collection
Reference : Howard, David S.; Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Volume I, p.363.
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