Qianlong period (1736-95), circa 1755, a porcelain teapot with coat of arms of Trafford of Trafford Park, Lancashire impaling Mosley, a red griffin on white ground (Trafford) and three battle axes with chevron on black ground (Mosley), gold ruyi head border and flowers to cover.

5 1/2 x 8 x 4 1/2 in.

Private Collection, Virginia Beach, Virginia Collected by the consignor and her husband with the guidance of David Sanctuary Howard, who literally wrote the book on Chinese Armorial porcelain. The couple began collecting during the 1970s from galleries and auction houses across Europe and the United States, and even from Howard himself. This collection is a very special offering of some rare and wonderful pieces collected over a lifetime with great care and passion.

The Traffords descended in an unbroken male line from the de Traffords seated at Trafford in Lancashire since the eleventh century. This service was made for the family of Humphrey Trafford who married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Oswald Mosley in the mid 18th century.

Copper mounting to the rim of the lid, likely a repair; firing flaw to spout.