A rather unusual Chinese export porcelain oval platter and mazzarene decorated in Famille Rose enamels in the Rose Medallion pattern with its charming vignettes of Mandarin scenes and birds and flowers against a densely hand-painted floral and butterfly ground. This was an enormously popular pattern in the 19th century and many services were produced, but this is one of a group of  special bespoke services, special-ordered with a family motto and crest.  What is particularly unusual is that this one bears the crest unassumingly on the reverse of the pieces decorated. The motto PRENEZ-GARDE was used by several families, primarily MACINTOSH of Scotland, but there also is a distinct possibility that this service has an American connection as this motto was also used by the Scottish RICKARD family whose descendant William Rickard emigrated to Newfoundland and then on to America where he became a noted chemist and metallurgist. In very good condition, being some of the best quality Rose Medallion produced and measuring 16 1/2″ x 13″ and dating to circa 1870.  Pictured in Howard’s Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Vol. II, page 702. $1,700.00