Lot Essay
The popularity in America of French porcelains during the years after the American Revolution is well documented, with such prominent Americans as John Jay, Governor Morris and Benjamin Franklin purchasing Parisian porcelains and thus influencing the tastes and subsequent purchases of their circle. The precedent for stylish French wares in the Presidential mansion was set by George Washington, whose purchase of a 309 piece Sevres white and gilt Paris porcelain state dinner service was procured by the Comte de Moustier in 1790. The fact that the official residence of the President of the United States used these imported wares for state functions assumes a particular symbolic importance in light of the assistance given by France to the American colonies during the war for American independence.
During the early years of the 19th century, French imports were still in vogue, with classically inspired hollow ware forms embellished with Greek and Roman motifs adorning the tables of stylish and affluent America. By 1817, the year James Monroe was inaugurated into the Presidency, America was recovering from the ravages of the War of 1812. The recently constructed White House was burned in 1814, as was most of Washington, with the majority of its contents damaged or destroyed. Accordingly, in that same year, Congress allocated Monroe $20,000 to outfit the White House with what furniture, glass, china and plate as would be appropriate an head of state. William Lee, second auditor of the Treasury Department was responsible for surveying the material remains of the White House and for ordering its replacements according to Monroe's direction. Lee's comment on the remaining White House furnishings as they existed on Monroe's taking office was, "There was no recourse in the remnants of glass, china, linen, etc. of which scarcely an article would serve indeed we may say there remained none of these articles fit for use." (Margaret B. Klapthor, Official White House China (Washington, 1972)p. 40). Portions of the Monroe Service, whose dessert pieces, such as those illustrated here, included the most elaborate of the set and are in the collections of the White House, Smithsonian Institute and the Winterthur Museum.
During the early years of the 19th century, French imports were still in vogue, with classically inspired hollow ware forms embellished with Greek and Roman motifs adorning the tables of stylish and affluent America. By 1817, the year James Monroe was inaugurated into the Presidency, America was recovering from the ravages of the War of 1812. The recently constructed White House was burned in 1814, as was most of Washington, with the majority of its contents damaged or destroyed. Accordingly, in that same year, Congress allocated Monroe $20,000 to outfit the White House with what furniture, glass, china and plate as would be appropriate an head of state. William Lee, second auditor of the Treasury Department was responsible for surveying the material remains of the White House and for ordering its replacements according to Monroe's direction. Lee's comment on the remaining White House furnishings as they existed on Monroe's taking office was, "There was no recourse in the remnants of glass, china, linen, etc. of which scarcely an article would serve indeed we may say there remained none of these articles fit for use." (Margaret B. Klapthor, Official White House China (Washington, 1972)p. 40). Portions of the Monroe Service, whose dessert pieces, such as those illustrated here, included the most elaborate of the set and are in the collections of the White House, Smithsonian Institute and the Winterthur Museum.