Superb and rare Paris armorial porcelain plate, circa 1875-85.

This was probably made for Thomas de Gray Cowper of Panshanger House Hertfordshire and Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire.

With deeply etched gilding and central double eagle with crest and armorial.

Double eagles were a rare honour in English armorials and this one was granted by Joseph II to the 3rd Earl in 1778 as Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. George III granted a licence for its use.

Wrest Park was built for Thomas Philip, 2nd Earl de Gray, 1834-1839. As a Francophile and scholar of French architecture he designed much of it himself in the Louis XV style. Ann Florence, Countess Cowper inherited the estate from Thomas, her father, in 1859. Her son, Thomas de Gray Cowper, became 7th Earl in 1856. The house was decorated with old French Boullework furniture, Sevres and Paris porcelain to complement the white and gold interior, and new commissions from the best artisans. Lady Cowper was very modern and a patron of the arts, the firm of Escalier de Crystal was opposite the newly opened Opera Garnier in Paris, in 1875. The couple toured France and Europe in 1875-88.

East Hertfordshire Lodge has a carving with similar arms and eagle as it was built for Lady Cowper as a memorial to her late husband in 1910.

Measures approx 9 Inches wide. Excellent condition, two small, well restored chips. One at 7'o'clock another on the back.