Description:
One of a set of nine Chinese export porcelain plates (see HD 69.0117 for other 6) decorated with a pine tree design in blue, purchased by the donor in the 1930s from the Mary Woodruff estate sale in Northampton, Mass. These plates descended through Mary's mother, Jurusha Ann Williams Woodruff (1835-1915), the granddaughter of John Williams (1767-1845) of Conway who married Nancy Stoddard (1769-1849) of Northampton in 1799, all members of the "Mansion People", a group of 7 elite families of western Mass. Chinese export plates such as these cost up to 16 shillings per dozen in the 1750's; by contrast, a skilled craftsman would earn from 12 to 14 shillings per week. HD has a secretary (HD 56.194) and Winterthur a dressing table (58.589) from the same sale. Although not understood by Westerners, the Chinese regarded the pine tree as a symbol of longevity. With bamboo and the prunus tree, the pine was considered one of the "Three Friends of Winter," plants that either bloomed early in the year or remained green in winter. A teacup decorated in the same manner was sold at Christie's London in 1986 (lot 5550A) as part of the 'Nanking Cargo,' salvaged by Michael Hatcher in 1983 from the Dutch East India Company ship, "Geldermalsen", that sunk in the South China Sea in 1752 after leaving Nanking bound for Amsterdam. Historic Northampton has a similar plate, and there are a set of six plates (R273.1-6) in the Ropes Mansion in Salem, Mass, probably owned by Judge Nathaniel Ropes (d.1774) who married Priscilla Sparhawk in 1755; a 1788 probate inventory of the house contents listed "Twenty four China plates & basket" at £1/ 5 shillings in the parlor. A fragment of a teacup with the pine tree design has also been excavated at the Ferryland site in Newfoundland, Canada. The well is decorated with two knarled fir tree in a rocky and mossy landscape; both the well and slightly flared rim are encircled with a trellis band.
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