Description

This plate is a historical recreation of a salad/dessert plate used by the Washington's, on Pickard’s ultra-white china which is formulated to be 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.  

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 the States China are on display at the Museum and Education Center at Mount Vernon. View the original pattern in Mount Vernon's collection.

Our reproduction plate measures 8-1/2” in diameter.  The back stamp states that the dessert plate has been authentically recreated and used during the administration of George Washington 1789-1797. Made in the USA by Pickard.

Also see our Martha Washington States Chamberstick