Description:
Chinese export porcelain dish decorated with the pseudo arms of New York State and a blue border with gold stars. These pseudo arms are a variant of the true New York State arms commissioned by Governor Clinton from Theobald Baker, August 21, 1778, in which Liberty who holds a staff and gently steps on the British crown and Justice who holds a sword and scales are dressed in Dutch colonial costume and stand on a banderole with the motto "EXCELSIOR", and a central cartouche with an eagle with outspread wings perched on a half globe over a sun rising above three mountains over two ships. State seals are rarely depicted correctly on Chinese porcelain, and adaptations, especially of the New York State arms, were popular and also have been found in England and Portugal. Although probably the original orders were placed by American captains or supercargoes, the design was quickly adapted for sale to all buyers.The quality of painting and depiction of the supporters vary, and there are a number of border patterns. The pattern was probably made up in stock sets for ready purchase with the central cartouche adapted to display a monogram or the initials of the buyer for special orders; in 1984, David Howard identified 24 initialed coffee or tea services. However, a greater number with gilt floral sprays in the central cartouche were shipped for general sale. This dish with its gilt floral spray instead of a monogram is typical of ware made for general sale, probably purchased by New York families, and was at its most popular between 1790 and 1800. NOTE: During a vist to HD on July 30, 2012, Ronald W.Fuchs II, Curator of the Reeves Center Collection at Washington and Lee University, noted that a number of faked Chinese export porcelain examples with the New York State seal done by a "Mr. Chicago" in Manhattan were discovered in 1930, depressing the price of Chinese export porcelain, particulary services with New York State coats of arms. This example must be further researched.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+69.0002 |
