Mistakes
Cultural differences further complicated the trading process. In some cases, the Chinese probably did not understand what Europeans were requesting be engraved on their game counters and other armorial services.
For example, the crest on the Gaming Counter with the Arms of Prince is incorrect. The hand should be holding three pineapples, but it appears to be holding arrows instead. Unawareness is likely to blame. While cultivated in China, it is unlikely that pineapple featured prominently in the diet of Cantonese craftsmen. They may have never seen one.
Another incorrect armorial service is this Mug with the Arms of Paterson, as the crest of George Paterson (1734-1813) appears five times. The crest was probably copied from a seal, which would have been engraved backwards so the design would face the correct way when impressed in wax. Because armorial seals were common, they likely served as the design sample provided when ordering armorial services.
Of course, everyone makes mistakes. These inaccuracies could certainly be attributed to human error. But it is less likely that these errors would have been made if there was no language barrier or cultural divide between the Chinese and Europeans.