The jar, which is 11.8cm in height (without the cover), is painted with scattered sprays of peach, peony and bamboo between borders of lotus panels; the short neck is decorated with a collar of ‘teeth’. There is a similar octagonal jar and cover in the Collection, CER0351, and the two probably represent: “A pair of small eight square blue and white Jarrs with covers to them,” which appear in the 1690 Devonshire Schedule. Such pots often appear in Dutch still life paintings and are thought to have been for preserves. The 1690 Devonshire schedule itemised an enormous bequest to Anne, Countess of Exeter from her mother Elizabeth, Countess of Devonshire.
