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Lot Essay
From the famed service purchased by Colonel "Light-Horse Harry" Lee for George Washington in 1786, 66 pieces of which are in the collection of the Henry Francis duPont Winterthur Museum, Delaware. The Cincinnati Society was founded in 1783 at the suggestion of Major General Henry Knox, inspired by the Roman Cincinnatus, a farmer turned patriot-soldier. Membership comprised the leaders of the Revolutionary War, who were proud to display its insignia.
Chinese porcelain decorated with the symbols of the Cincinnati Society, in several different variations, was ordered by Major Samuel Shaw, a founding member. Shaw had been aide-de-camp to General Knox, and after the War became supercargo, or business agent, of The Empress of China, first American trading ship to set sail for China. Later Shaw was appointed American consul to Canton. See D.S. Howard & J.S. Ayers, China for the West, pp.489-91, and A. Palmer, A Winterthur Guide to Chinese Export Porcelain, p. 133.
Plates from the Cincinnati service have been sold by Christie's New York, anonymous sales, 21 January 1998, lot 269, 21 January 1999, lot 266 and 20 January 2004, lot 433.
Chinese porcelain decorated with the symbols of the Cincinnati Society, in several different variations, was ordered by Major Samuel Shaw, a founding member. Shaw had been aide-de-camp to General Knox, and after the War became supercargo, or business agent, of The Empress of China, first American trading ship to set sail for China. Later Shaw was appointed American consul to Canton. See D.S. Howard & J.S. Ayers, China for the West, pp.489-91, and A. Palmer, A Winterthur Guide to Chinese Export Porcelain, p. 133.
Plates from the Cincinnati service have been sold by Christie's New York, anonymous sales, 21 January 1998, lot 269, 21 January 1999, lot 266 and 20 January 2004, lot 433.