Martha Washington States China Plate
This plate is a historical recreation of a salad or dessert plate used by the Washingtons.
About this design:
On April 24, 1796, Dutch merchant Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest (1739-1801) arrived in Philadelphia from Canton with "A Box of China for Lady Washington."
The center of the well features the interlocking black initials “MW” surrounded by a green laurel wreath at the center of a gilded sunburst. Below the sunburst is a ribbon, touched red at the tips, with the motto “DECUS ET TUTAMEN AB ILLO" (Honor and Defense come from it) written in black. A blue snake, biting its tail, with gilded scales and its top outlined in black, encircles the top of the rim exterior. Below it is a chain of fifteen wide green links outlined in black joined by smaller gilded links, outlined in red; each of the green links contains the name of a state: Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Traces of gilt appear along the rim.
Numerous examples of china featuring the States Design are on display at the Museum and Education Center at Mount Vernon.
View the originals in the online Mount Vernon gallery here.
The manufacturer of this plate uses an ultra-white china base, formulated as a French Limoges style. French Limoges china has a blue/grey undertone that is created by ingredients used and by the carbonaceous kiln atmosphere during manufacturing.
- Measures 8-1/2” in diameter
- Stamp on back states that plate has been authentically recreated as well as the time period of the original piece (1789-1797)
- Made in the USA by Pickard.
