JIAQING PERIOD, CIRCA 1800

Remarkable for its fine enamelling and lavish use of gilt decoration, and for the fact that each piece depicts a different scene, this design has, since the 1970s, been known as 'Rockefeller-pattern’ due to its close associations with the Rockefeller family of New York. It is also sometimes referred to as 'palace ware’. It appears that possibly only three dinner services with this pattern were ordered from China. This pair of ice-pails came undoubtedly from the service ordered by Andrew John Drummond, which is mentioned by David S. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, London, 1994, pp. 138-9, no. 147, where he refers to Drummond’s visit to Canton in the 1790s whilst he was a General in the East India Company. Another service was ordered by Charles Stirling (1771-1830) of Keir, Perthshire (see the service of this pattern sold by Colonel William Stirling of Keir at Christie’s, London, 5 December 1977, lot 324, from which Nelson Rockefeller later purchased 43 pieces, subsequently sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 19–22 November 1980, lots 565-582; much of the remaining Stirling service was sold at Christie’s, New York, 28 April 2017, lot 18). A third service of this pattern was ordered by John Roberts (1739-1810), a Director of the British East India Company, and 88 pieces from the Roberts service was sold by David Rockefeller, a son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., at Sotheby’s, New York, 26 January 1984, lots 126-137. Illustrating yet again the fondness of Rockefeller family for the pattern is the assembled service of over 100 pieces from the Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, sold at Christie’s, New York, 9 May 2018, lot 161.

A very similar pair of Rockefeller-pattern ice-pails, liners and covers was sold from the Collection of Monsieur et Madame Luigi Anton Laura, Sotheby's, Paris, 27 June 2001, lot 327.

Stobhall dates from the 14th century and was occupied by members of the Drummond family until recently. The Lords Drummond, elevated to the Earldom of Perth in 1605, lived there until the middle of the 18th century. They were, however, on the losing side of both Jacobite rebellions, and forfeited the earldom in 1715 and then Stobhall itself in 1745, although it remained in the family through marriage to the Earls of Ancaster. The complex of buildings which makes up Stobhall was extensively restored during the 1950s when it passed back into the hands of David, 17th Earl of Perth, the title having been reinstated in the 19th century. The castle and its collection was sold by Viscount Strathallan in 2012.