Description:
On of five Chinese export porcelain plates decorated in blue in the classic "Canton" design, "island and bridge", which includes river, islands, bridge (usually with three arches), teahouses, pines, mountains, rocks, boats, and clouds. They have a narrow white rim, wide diapered band, scallop band, white curvature, band with diagonal lines, and a waterscape in the well. "Canton ware" was made in Jingdezhen and shipped by water 600 miles south to the port of Canton. It served as ship ballast, loaded in the hold to form a platform on which tea, silks, etc. could be stored safely from bilge water; the average vessel carried from 200-250 boxes of porcelain. Canton was exported from the last quarter of the 18th century into the 20th century, but is very difficult to date because it was always produced in various qualities and shades of blue; often form and texture provide the best guides. Blue and white Canton was popular in American; there are 14 pieces at Mount Vernon believed to have been used by George and Martha Washington. These plates were listed in the 1920 catalogue in the Main Hall, Case B, given by Mrs. C.E.B. Allen: "6. Eight Dinner Plates. Belonged to Gen. Joseph Warren of Bunker Hill fame; sold to E. Hinsdale Williams of Deerfield (uncle of the donor) by Richard E. Newcomb, Judge of Probate, Greenfield, who married Mary Warren, daughter of Gen. Warren. (See also Case D., Nos. 42, 58, 62, 65.)". However, Warren (1741-1775) died at Bunker Hill, so these could not have belonged to him; interestingly, he was the grandson of Deborah Williams (1668-1743) of Roxbury (related to the Deerfield Williams), who married Joseph Warren about 1693. PVMA records state that "she [Mary] died a young woman - the crockery she had of her father's estate - was sold about 1830? - to Asa Stebbins and E. H. Williams. The latter half - what was left on the death of his widdow - was given to Mrs. Allen & by his wife she gave what is here entered to PVMA, rest she gave to A. Hawks."
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