Teabowl, Qianlong c.1760, with the quarterly arms of Clive of India
Large teabowl, 3½ inches across, well painted with the arms of Clive of India within a moulded blue border reserved with white butterflies. Almost certainly for Robert Clive (1725-1774) as the seventh quarter represents the arms of his grandmother.
Clive entered the East India Company in 1744 becoming a key figure in the creation of British India after his decisive victory over French forces at the Battle of Plassey. He married Margaret Maskelyne (sister of Nevil Maskelyne, the Astronomer Royal) on the 15th March 1753 in Madras. In 1762 he was created Lord Clive, so this porcelain must pre-date that event.
Heraldically it is also possible that this was made for Robert’s brother, William Clive – but opportunity makes it much more likely that it was for Robert Clive as a service was also made at a similar time for his relative Captain Thomas Latham (their two wives were first cousins), who had a distinguished naval career, was on the Council of Bengal and was an intimate friend and correspondent of Robert Clive while in India.
With labels from the Weld Collection, and the Elinor Gordon Collection.
Reference : Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Volume I, p.589
Click image to enlarge