Qianlong period (1736-95), circa 1765, oblong octagonal shaped tureen with cover, having iron red hare head handles to the body and large flower finial to the cover, each side of body exterior is hand painted with the coat of arms for the Clerke family granted to Joseph Clerke in 1761.



7 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 7 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.

Christie's, London, May 11, 2004, lot 153.

The arms were granted in 1761 to Joseph Clerke, whose son Charles entered the Navy at the age of fourteen. In 1768 and again in 1772 Clerke was master's mate with Captain Cook. In 1776, Clerke commanded the Discovery and Cook the Resolution and he was present when Cook was murdered in 1779, leaving Clerke in command of the expedition.

Restoration to the finial; some rubbing to the decoration, minor chip to one handle.