Up for bid is a fine late 18^th / early 19^th C American market Chinese export porcelain 9 inch bowl, descended through the famous Arnold family of Rhode Island.  The piece is 9 inches in diameter by 3 7/8 inches tall.  The piece is simply decorated with thin bands in overglaze cobalt blue and gold.  The piece has two sunburst cartouches on the sides with a script monogram “SA” in gold and iron red.  The unglazed foot rim shows a smooth white paste.  There are no marks, though there is an old oval label with a “T.”.

This bowl descended in the Rogers / Arnold family of Rhode Island, and almost certainly belonged to Samuel Greene Arnold Sr., a prominent merchant who married into the Rogers family.  His son, Samuel Greene Arnold Jr., was a state historian and US Senator for many years as part of distinguished political career.  We acquired the bowl from a direct descendant; it had never been out of the family.

Condition on the piece is fair.  There is a small chip to the rim and a long hairline crack and another tiny rim fracture, as well as wear to the gilding.  Still a nice piece of historic Chinese export porcelain!