The exterior is painted with views of the trading stations or factories known as 'Hongs' at Canton. The flags represent the trading stations of the individual nations: Denmark, Spain, France, Sweden, Britain, the Netherlands and America. Two of the small trading boats depicted are also flying British flags which suggests the bowl may have been made specifically for the British market. It is one of a series of these bowls produced from the 1780s and one of only 7 known to have an early depiction of the American flag.

Provenance

Winn family collection, Nostell Priory since at least 1806.