A Chinese armorial double-lipped sauceboat c.1740

A Chinese armorial double-lipped sauceboat c.1740, decorated with the arms of Lyon, Earls of Strathmore, each lip with a spray of peony and chrysanthemum, 19.6cm. Provenance: the Clifford Henderson collection. Sold at Sotheby's in 1985 and purchased from Heirloom and Howard in the same year. The Lyon family are one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Scotland. The family name became Bowes-Lyon after the 9th Earl married the wealthy heiress, Mary Bowes, in 1767. The name was made famous by Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wife of George VI and mother to Queen Elizabeth II. The service was gifted to the Royal couple at their wedding in 1923, but returned to Glamis Castle in 1952 at the death of George VI. The service at Glamis contains only three sauceboats and it is possible that this is the only piece of that service not at Glamis Castle.