When the First Lady, Mrs. Hayes, encountered Theodore R. Davis, an artist and reporter for Harper's Weekly, in the White House conservatory, she summoned his opinion on her soon-to-be ordered dessert plates. While Davis' duties had brought him to the official residence to oversee a photo session with the President, Mrs. Hayes was so taken with Davis' idea to depict flora and fauna on the entire porcelain service that she commissioned him to design the entire series in collaboration with Haviland & Co. The overall shape of the soup bowls takes the floral form of a laurel blossom with a variety of illustrations constituting the central areas. The reverse, featuring a decorative starburst motif, bears the Haviland & Co. mark, signature of Theodore R. Davis, and patent numbers as found on those pieces marketed for sale.

FOUR SOUP PLATES FROM THE RUTHERFORD B. HAYES (PRESIDENT, 1877-1881) PRESIDENTIAL PATTERN SERVICE

HAVILAND & CO., 1884-1889

Details

FOUR SOUP PLATES FROM THE RUTHERFORD B. HAYES (PRESIDENT, 1877-1881) PRESIDENTIAL PATTERN SERVICE
HAVILAND & CO., 1884-1889
Comprising: The Frog; Clam Bake and Chowder; Crab; and Southward Flight
Each 9 in. diameter (4)

Lot Essay

The Frog rests on a pond-lily, harkening the call of spring as an April shower washes in the season. The blue Clam-bake and Chowder offers a scene of festivities ensued along Long Island Sound as a fire keeps the kettle burning warm and a party gathers behind the smoke along the shore. Crab is shown along the edges of waters amidst the cusp of shedding its shell and transitioning to a soft-shell. Southward Flight presents various flocks of birds flying south for the winter season.

More from Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver and Prints including The Garbisch Collection from the Sky Club

View All