Bowl which belonged to Jean Armour Burns

This fine china bowl was used by Robert Burns and his family during the time they lived in Burns House, Dumfries.   Jean Armour, the poet's widow, later gave it to James Adair, the Excise Officer who took over Burns' duties after his death in 1796.  Adair had taken lodgings with the Burns family, and on his departure from the town, Jean gave him this bowl, remarking that she now had nothing left worth giving away except herself.   Jean Armour Burns continued to live in the family home.  She remained there for the rest of her life and by the time of her own death in 1843, the house had become a place of pilgrimage and relics of Robert Burns were treasured and preserved.