A very rare Chinese export 'Scotsmen' plate, Qianlong, ca. 1745

Dia.: 23 cm

Provenance:
- Previously in the collection of Maude Queiroz Pereira, Lisbon, with a label to the back.  

Ref.: 
- Christie's New York, 26 January 2015, lot 113, for an identical example. (sold USD 47.500,00) (link)
- Sotheby's New York, 21 April 2023, lot 621, for an identical example. (sold USD 20.320,00) (link)
- The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, accession number C.29-1951 for an identical example. (link)
- The Metropolitan, New York, Object Number 62.125.2, for an identical example. (link)

Literature:
- D. S. Howard, 'Chinese Porcelain of the Jacobites', Country Life, January 25, 1973. 
- D.S. Howard, 'A Tale of Three Cities', p. 112 no. 135. 
- W. R. Sargent, 'Treasures of Chinese Export Ceramics in the Peabody Essex Museum', p. 322 no. 171. 
- Howard and Ayers, 'China for the West', p. 239 no. 234. 
- J. G. Veiga, 'Chinese Export Porcelain in Private Brazilian Collections', p. 288 plate 264. 

The 'Scotsmen' or 'Highlanders' decoration counts as one of the most important and iconic imageries seen on Chinese export art. The figures in the centre depict a piper and a private from the 42nd Regiment of Foot, a predecessor to the famous Black Watch. The source print of the piper is discussed by David Sanctuary Howard, 'Chinese Porcelain of the Jacobites - I', Country Life, January 25, 1973. Howard notes that the piper was taken from an engraving by George Brickham and published on A short history of the Highland Regiment, London, 1743; and the private was also after a drawing by Brickham of the same date. Members of the regiment deserted the Stuart cause, and on July 18, 1743, Privates Samuel, Farquar Shaw, Malcolm McPherson were executed at the Tower for the mutiny, and a Piper Macdonnel was sent to Georgia, USA, as a convict. These men were seen as Jacobite martyrs, and memorialized on plates and punch bowls bearing these figures.

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