Chinese Porcelain Armorial Tea Bowl Scots Musketeer Qianlong Antique 1770

An antique Chinese export armorial porcelain tea bowl painted in polychrome enamel with gilding featuring a crested shield or heraldic armorial.

This very unusual and possibly fanciful hand painted and gilded armorial is loosely based upon the Royal Arms of Scotland with a quirky twist to it. The design of this coat of arms consists of a gold shield with a red lion rearing up (rampant) stood upon a green ground whilst holding a musket in the order arms position. There is a black closed helmet with a plume of green or turquoise ostrich feathers, all surrounded with an ornate puce and gilded mantle. Above the helmet is a crest in the form of the top half of a man, with a feathered cap holding a musket in the present arms position, as if to fire it. 

Some collectors may refer to this man as a rifleman, fusilier, grenadier or infantryman and his long gun as a hand cannon, arquebus, matchlock, flintlock, musket or rifle. It is possible this tea bowl was made for a member of the East India Company or one of the Scottish Army regiments.

There is a gilded and iron red square chain line inner rim border as well as scattered rose or peony  flower sprays around the outside of the bowl.

It is otherwise unmarked and dates to the mid to late eighteenth century, in the Georgian period in the UK circa 1770, which correlates to the reign of the Emperor Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-95) in the Qing dynasty 清代.

The tea bowl is 3 11/16 inches (8.9 cm) diameter and 2 inches (5 cm) high. It weighs 75 grammes unpacked.

It is good antique condition, with some loss to the gilding, some minor fritting. This beautiful antique tea bowl displays well. It is a very attractive item to add to a collection of antique hand painted Chinese 18th century porcelain, armorials or for anyone interested in Heraldry, arms, guns and weaponry. 

We have two of these available, each listed separately but shown as a pair in the last two images, the other one is slightly smaller than this one.

Free UK delivery with this item,  international postage at cost.