Lot Essay
The arms are those of Wood of Copmanthorpe. See D.S. Howard, op.cit., 1974, p.552. This service was probably made for John Wood of Copmanthorpe and Hollin Hall, who assumed the name of Boynton. He inherited Hollin Hall in 1757 and, while aggrandising the ancient family mansion, commissioned a mahogany bookcase/china-cabinet, probably in order to hold part of the family's armorial service. This bookcase relates to a design by Thomas Chippendale of circa 1754 and is being sold in these Rooms, 4 June 1998, lot 153. It has been photographed in situ in Country Life, 14 July 1988, fig.8, displaying part of the service. This service is also referred to in a letter in Country Life, 20 April 1968, showing a detail of the 'woodmen' depicted in the arms, which was taken from one of the punchbowls. On John Wood's death in 1778, Hollin Hall was inherited by his younger brother, Richard Wood, who may well have brought the service back from China, since he was a supercargo in the East India Company and a Member of the Council at Canton in 1756 and 1760.