circa 1745, centered with arms of Wallace, gilt shield form with central iron red lion rampant, flanked by blue triangles and tassels, above the motto, "Amesisuim custodi", the rim with crest of Wallace, armored arm holding a sword, rim with floral sprays and gilt border, 8-3/4 in.; circa 1725, centered with arms of Merry, shield with iron red and white ground, within diaper and gilt borders, the rim crest of the mast of a ship, issuing arrows, with the coat of Foster of Essex and Suffolk in pretense, depicting an inset white lion rampant on a blue ground, rim with pagoda, fish, and flowers, 8-1/2 in.

Note: Wallace: "The Wallaces of Kelly near Greenock descend from Hugh Wallace of Ellerslie. This Hugh in 1678 conveyed Ellerslie to Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, whose son (also Sir Thomas) conveyed it to John Wallace, a merchant of Glasgow, for whose family this service was probably made.

Sir William Wallace, who from his first victory against the English in 1296 until his betrayal and death in 1305, was the undoubted ruler of Scotland, was always referred to as 'of Ellerslie', although there is no proof that he possessed that estate and his only child was a natural daughter."

Chinese Armorial Porcelain Volume I, David S. Howard, Faber & Faber, 31 May 1974, p. 413.

Merry: Richard Merry of Walthamstow, and a London merchant, married Sarah, daughter of Abraham Foster of High Laver Hall in Essex. 

There is another service with the Merry arms made about this time or possibly two years earlier.

Chinese Armorial Porcelain Volume I, David S. Howard, Faber & Faber, 31 May 1974, p. 208.

Provenance: Christopher M. Weld, Essex, Massachusetts

each with scratching, anomalies (as made), wear to gilt and paint decoration, discoloration, chipping to foot ring, labels to base; Wallace black light fluoresces reveal series of repaired hairline cracks, in-painting to rim; Merry black light fluoresces reveals majority of rim with in-painting, series of hairline cracks, in-painting to foot ring