Plate

Art Historical Context

This elegant porcelain plate, crafted in China for the American market between 5 and 1790, exemplifies the height of Chinese export porcelain during the early post-Revolutionary era. Measuring 9 inches in diameter, it features motifs of birds and a coat of arms, customized for a prominent American family. These designs, painted in vibrant overglaze enamels highlight the technical mastery of Chinese potters at kilns like those in Jingdezhen, where translucent porcelain bodies were fired to perfection before intricate hand-painted decorations were added and refired at lower temperatures for durability and luster. In the context of late 18th-century trans-Pacific trade, such plates were luxury imports symbolizing status among America's emerging elite. Following the 1784 opening of direct U.S.-China trade routes, affluent households commissioned personalized services with heraldic symbols, blending European armorial traditions with Asian craftsmanship. This piece, now in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing thanks to the 1910 bequest of James T. Woodward, underscores the cultural exchange that shaped early American material culture—bridging Eastern artistry with New World aspirations.