Chinese, Made for the American Market [Qianlong or Jiaqing Reign]
This plate, a fine example, lavishly decorated for the American market was part of a large service made for the 1796 wedding of New York politician DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828) and his bride, Maria Franklin (1775–1818) on the occasion, of their marriage in 1796.
The decorative Chinese landscape is encircled by a spearhead border and depictions of the eight Chinese Immortals of the Taoist religion, a purely Chinese decoration. Only the entwined gold initials DWMC indicate that this plate was made for a foreign market. DeWitt Clinton, a giant in the political life of New York is known for a long and distinguished career, notably as a brigadier-general in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, as a New York State Senator (1798-1802), as a United States Senator (1802-03), mayor of New York City (1803-15), candidate for President of the United States, running unsuccessfully against James Madison in 1808, and his three terms as Governor of New York from 1817 to 1823, and then again from 1825 until his death. He was instrumental in effecting the completion and opening of the Erie Canal during his final term as Governor in 1825.
Item Date: 1796 -1810
Measurement: 7.75" x 10"
Material: Porcelain
Item Condition: Very good with typical wear to the gilt border. Bears the cypher of DeWitt and Maria Clinton, "DWMC" in gilt script
Reference: Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. The Art Institute [among other public collections] has a dinner plate from this Service as does the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
Literature: Please see David Howard, New York and the China Trade, pages 104 and 113, no. C-66, Jean McClure Mudge, Chinese Export Porcelain in North America, page 163, plate 257, and Thomas V. Litzenburg, Jr., Chinese Export Porcelain in the Reeves Center Collection at Washington & Lee University, pages 146-47, cat. no. 138.
Price: $2,950
SKU 1121-53
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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