The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-09
RARE CHINA
IN THE EAST
SOME SCARCE ARTICLES THAT
COLLECTORS ARE AFTER.
The China Closets Of the Presidents and
What They Contained Auction Sales
Attended by Collectors-Harri
and Mckinley Furnished Their Table
Service Of Domestic China.

Washington, Nov. e.-In the New
York Art metropolitan museum is the
famous Huntington collection Of rare
pieces of china decorated with Ameri-
can scenes. Mr.. Huntington resided
many years abroad and enjoyed collect
ing rarities. His china collection grew
until it was finally placed in the mu-
scum. In it are cup and saucer owned
and used by Washington, bearing his
monogram. Not a few of the likenesses
are far from realistic, but all are inter-
esting; The popularity Of franklin
abroad may account for the numerous
pieces bearing his name. ~. 81
When Lafayette visited this country
the rage of decorating dishes with his
likeness became popular. The prints
are dark blue and are found on antique
bowls and pitchers marked Clews and
Enoch Wood & Son. AS Lafayette was
present at the opening of the Erie canal
the occasion was taken for issuing six
different views with his name attached
den, New York, Aug. "a, 1824,' is among
about this time his famous s'Beauties
of America The pieces are medium
blue and many have views of public
buildings.
'Harrison Plates'' Glut Market.
Each mistress Of the White House has
exercised her taste in the choice of
service. Martha Washington had q set
presented her by the officers of the
French navy, which is interesting from
historical associations, and the service
used by Washington had the names of
the thirteen states arranged around the
border in circular pattern. Lincoln had
full set of crimson or plum colored
French china, the center of the plates
bearing the coat-of-arms of the United
States. The General Grant set had a
border of buff and gold, broken once by
the American flag. It was designed by
an American artist, and made at the
ings were made for each course, illus
trative Of American flora and fauna.
The ice cream platter and plates were
| made in the form of snowshoes, and the
afterdinner plates copied from a curl
Gus Indian plate found by General Gus
ter. The soup plates were decorated
with mountain laurel.
The Harrison set was turned out by
firm in the east, and contract per
mitted the maker to make duplicate
pieces: This misfortune has made
original Harrison plates' plentiful.
Many of these White House services
were enormous. Mrs. Cleveland g set
consisted Of thirty dozen. pieces. One
of the most beautiful Cleveland sets
had a rich broad band of red around
the border. Mrs. McKinley's set came
compared favorably with the Harrison,
Hayes and other services. In the cen:
ter Of each plate was the American
eagle, while around the border were
the Thirteen States.
Portions of all these sets remain in
the White House. Others have been
sold. bringing large sums of money
| from collectors. AS the custom existed
| until recently of selling at auction
of no further use at the end of the
presidential term, persons have been
able to obtain specimens.
Antiques Becoming Scarce:
There have been some remarkable
sales of old china lately. Usually
these sales are advertised in unique
magazines which keep track of ole
specimens and tell interestingly of the
different varieties and kinds priced by
collectors. In past years any stray
china lover had to hunt for specimens
have been ransacked and we must look
to collectors or individuals. The Trum
bull-Prime collection is without doubt
the best in this country, and by a for
tunate circumstance it is situated al
Princeton, near the great earthenware
factories of Trenton. Much of the
finest antique china has found it's way
to California. These ancient and moo
ern. pieces of historical and patriotic
| designs have their. memory, wore
softly spoken but clear. They are no
common clay, no vessels of common
ware, but to, the china lover they ar
fragile porcelain emblems, each breath
ing some suggestion, some history
Many ghosts, visions and dreams thes
plates and dishes conjure forth of tn
meager, bent figures of New Englan,
ANCESTORS, of state dinners, diplomacy
wedding. joys.
Sometimes the "last leaves upon tn
tree' are kept in elegant china closet
such as compare with Cowper's, VIII
prided himself on his elegant pottery
at other times they are under lock an
key. But the craze for collecting al
ways grows; no amount of discourage
ment will keep the china lover back
and old and new designs each are Q
value as showing the different period
/ in the development of the history of tn
i American nation.