A pair of blue and white porcelain deep dishes, decorated with the Three Friends of Winter. The back side with figures and little boys in landscapes and interior. Marked with seal mark Jiaqing. China, Jiaqing. H. 4 cm. Diam. 18 cm. Provenance: Jhr. Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1872-1956). Beelaerts van Blokland was also known as the ‘The Hague mandarin’, given that he resided in Peking as a Foreign Affairs diplomate from 1909 until 1919. In 1905 he married lady Maria Adriana Snoeck (1873-1948), a lady-in-waiting attending on Queen Wilhelmina. After his stay in China he was, among other things, Minister of Foreign Affairs, vice-president of the Council of State, and President of the Dutch College of Arms. In May 1940 he accompanied Queen Wilhelmina to London, where he was her most important advisor. Beelaerts van Blokland was Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands and Grand Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.