A CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN ARMORIAL DINNER SERVICE

A CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN ARMORIAL DINNER SERVICE, C1730 enamelled with a shield of arms, mantling within pink diaper and crest to the border between trailing branches of finger citron and pomegranate, comprising 14 plates 22cm diam, 5 plates 25cm diam and 9 saucer dishes, 21.5cm diam (28)The arms are those of Barker impaling Baker.The Barkers of Newbury, Berkshire were formerly settled in Northumberland and the present service was probably made for Sir Christopher Barker. It is likely the service was commmissioned on his marriage to the daughter of William Baker, Bishop of Bangor (1723-27) and later Bishop of Norwich; see Howard (D S) Chinese Armorial Porcelain, 1974, p230.