Lot 759: SPOILUM (CHINESE, ACT. 1765-1805). PORTRAIT

SPOILUM (CHINESE, ACT. 1765-1805). PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF CAPTAIN THOMAS MORTIMER OF THE HONORABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY, CIRCA 1800. Mortimer (1771-1824) was captain of the East Indiaman "Monarch" sailing to Madras and St. Helena in 1801-02 and the "General Stuart" off the coast of Madiera in 1803-04. He is buried at St. Mary's Church, Eastbourne, East Sussex. The sitter with remnants of gilding on his coat buttons. Watercolor on ivory, 3 1/2x 2 3/4inches, sight. In an English frame with oval brass bezel, japanned mat, and gilt composition frame. The reverse inscribed "Captain Thomas Mortimer/ H.E.I.C.N./ Taken in China 1800."

Literature: Chinese export porcelain with the arms of Mortimer, are illustrarted and discussed in David Sanctuary Howard, "Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Vol. II, pp. 477, 514, T3 and U2.