A Chinese famille rose Portuguese market armorial 'Count of Barca' tea bowl and saucer, Jiaqing

Dia.: 14,2 cm (the saucer)

H 5 - L 10,3 cm (the cup)

The saucer embellished by Francesco Bartolozzi (1725-1815) with clouds, putti and ribbon. Coats of arms are bestowed by kings for services rendered to the country and designed by colleges of arms. They are thus very austere symbols. It is very unusual to have them embellished by artists. This is one of the very rare cases were it happened.

António de Araújo e Azevedo, 1st and only Count of Barca (Portugal 1754-Brazil 1817), Foreign Office Minister, War Minister, State Councillor, Prime Minister, Navy Minister in Brazil in 1814, founder of Beaux-Arts Academy in Brazil, scientist and writer.

Provenance:

- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, USA, gift of Helena Woolworth McCann, nrs. 2298.41 and 56.248a.

- Elinor Gordon Collection, USA, sold at Sotheby's New York 2011.

- Marchant, London, UK.