Description:
One of two Chinese export porcelain saucers 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. The blue and white Canton was popular in American; there are 14 pieces of Canton at Mount Vernon believed to have been used by George and Martha Washington, one of which has a similar design to this platter. This bowl was listed in the 1920 catalogue in the Main Hall, Case D, given by Mrs. C. E. B. Allen: "62. Two Sauce Plates". See HD L93.01.5 for the ownership history of the bowl and the related Williams pieces. The Ebenezer Hinsdale Williams (1761-1838) 1838 Probate Inventory listed: "70 pieces making part of a China Dining Sett...10.00".
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