A rare pair of Chinese Imperial red cinnabar lacquer stem bowls Qianlong 1736-95, the bowls with flared rims, each carved in relief with eight lança characters amidst an elaborate lotus and fern scroll, the base with bands of ruyi, beaded borders and lappets, the interiors with gilt metal liners, each with a paper label which reads 'Taken out of the Summer Palace, Peking, Lt Gosset (?), 2nd Queens (Regiment?), Oct. 1860', with associated reticulated hardwood stands,13cm x 15.2cm. (4)

Provenance: The Summer Palace, Beijing, 1860. Arthur Wellesley Gosset (b.1837). And then a French private collection.

Cf. Carved Lacquer in the Collection of The Palace Museum, no.338, where a similar example is illustrated. See also Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 8th October 2010, lots 2756 and 2757.

Arthur Wellesley Gosset is recorded in The London Gazette upon entry into the British Army, 'Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Mulock. Dated 24th October 1856'.