Tobacco Leaf Creamer

This extravagant design was originally made in China, probably for export to the Portuguese and Brazilian markets.   Of all the 18th century dinnerware patterns, this was the most highly prized. George and Martha Washington owned pieces of this pattern and there are examples of Tobacco Leaf china in the Mount Vernon collection.

A small phoenix bird perches on the leaves of the flowering Nocotiana (Tobacco) plant.   Twenty-seven colors with 22k gold characterize this pattern which is based on an original which is displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.