From a rare group of identifiable Chinese export porcelain teawares made for the American market, decorated en grisaille,  with a central image of a neoclassical urn resting upon a plinth inscribed with the monogram JB for Captain John Barton  (1774-1818) of Salem, Massachusetts. To the right, is a swagged shield bearing the image of an anchor (the sailor’s symbol of Hope) with two love birds resting upon it, a cartouche below bearing the initials of the captain’s wife LB. And to the left, most remarkably, is the partial image of his ship, flying an American flag, with the stern inscribed ARAB.  This pattern appears on other services-some bearing a British flag, some with inscribed monograms-but seldom does it ever have so much identifiable information as to the ship’s name and captain, let alone his wife. This was a very specific commission, in good condition and dating to circa 1800-1810.