Covered Tureen

China

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), Qianlong period (1736-1795), About 1755

Both the Moffat and Macleod clans of Scotland used the elaborate cipher of “J.M.” found on the tureen lid. The Moffats were a powerful border clan of ancient Viking origin, while the Macleods were a Highland clan with ties to the Isle of Skye. There may originally have been a platter underneath the tureen.

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Pair of solid white jasper urns with black jasper dip and applied white jasper relief decoration, each on a square plinth with anthemion motifs around, with round foot with floral motifs and beading on the stem, the lower body with stiff leaf and lotus motifs and the main body with the scene of Apollo and the Nine Muses and above this a band of white, the shoulder decorated with acanthus leaves and leafy anthemion motifs, the terminals of the handles comprised of satyr masks, whose fluted horns extend up and connect to form an angular loop handle, with plain neck and flared lip with like floral band, the small conforming cover with stiff leaf elements and ball finial, the interiors left white and with sump covers.
Oval dark blue jasper cameo with white relief woman with putti depicting Night and Day, also known as Venus and Cupid, or Night shedding Poppies, and Ceres and Triptolemus. Original model is attributed to John Bacon Senior 1777-1780
Small round medallion of white jasper with dark blue jasper dip and white bas relief of an "Offering to Jupiter" — Jupiter is seated on a stool with a staff and an eagle by his side, a young maiden approaches him with a large round bowl — in a cut-steel mount set with two bands of faceted cut-steel beads and a wider band of small cut-steel beads arranged in a floral pattern between single, larger, oval, faceted cut-steel beads, the reverse with a brass and steel pin (a later addtion or repair)
Large oval plaque of light blue jasper with blue jasper dip and in high white relief the figure of Diomedes, hero of the Trojan War, with cloak thrown over his shoulder and sword under his arm.