The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-05-08
WIDOW or REAR ADMIRAL DICK
ms DEPOSITS IT IN THE
NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Display Embraces Different varities
OF the Ceramic Art and Possesses
Great Historic Value.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., May IA
collection OF china inc pottery which
10 calculated to appeal to all who are
interested In art and American his
tory. Is now on display in the east
hall OF the older National Museum
building.
This exhibit has been deposited in
the museum by the widow OF Rear
Admiral Francis William Dickins, L.
8. ~. and represents the painstaking
and life long labors OF the admiral.
Being especially interested in history
and the application OF the pictorial
arts TO ceramics. the admiral began
At an early date to assemble the col
lection which now ranks as the most
complete of its kind in America. II
not In the world. There are about
$50 pieces in the exhibit. chiefly OF
English manufacture. comprising for
the most part plates. cups. saucers.
pitchers. mugs n many other odd
and unique dishes OF different periods
decorated with scenes. portraits and
inscriptions OF historical significance.
A very good general conception OF
the history of this country may be
gained from a study OF this collection
and IL Is worthy to note how well
the ceramic art lends itself TO the
preservation OF historical records.
Quite otherwise than in the old
Egyptian papyri and manuscripts. the
delineations OF historical scenes on
these plates and dishes are as fresh
as upon the day they were baked. In
the ceramic art there is no fading
OF the colors. no ~decaying OF the ma
terial. n the plates and PLAQUES.
fn1aga hraEan nrAoArrA fntnas 20
p%ostertty whatever may be depicted
IN them.
Pieces Of White House China.
At present the collection is INSTALL
ed in six pier cases arranged around
the hall in which the period. cos
tunes are to be placed. and forms an
interesting feature OF the hall. Con-
~spicuous among the pieces OF pottery
are several examples OF White House
china. especially those which relate
10 Washington. Jefferson. Madison.
Monroe. Jackson. Harrison. Pierce.
Lincoln. Grant and Hayes.
Another series relates particularly
20 the history Of the United States
and shows scenes from the colonial
wars. the revolution. the war OF 1917.
and the civil and spanish wars. Two
pieces OF pottery represent the treaty
mace by william Penn ard the In
oians. and not only commemorate that
event. but given an idea OF the odd
conception of colonial scenes formed
by the English potters OF the
eighteenth century. one is n fruit
dish ted inside in brown. with
a view Of Penn's treaty. showing two
Indians standing opposite Penn. a man
kneeling near him exhibiting a piece
OF cloth. and in the background. an
oriental Scene. outside are two views
OF the same Transaction. slightly
changed In the grouping. but with orr
entail buildings. The second piece Is
a soup plate on which is represented
q scene in which two Quakers are
standing with an open box at their
feet. a squaw in full cvening dress Is
kneeling before them. lifting strings
~ beads. and behind her stands an
Indian chief. Here aEsin the same
oriental buildings are seen. and also
tropical trees
Mormon Communion plate.
Another interesting object IL n
Mormon communion plate OF porcelain
made In the form and design ~ a cop
per plate carried by the Mormon7
when they migrated IN 1876 from
Nsuvoo. Illinois. to Utah. II repre-
sents the Mormon temple OF Nauvoo.
and the Angel Moroni whom ~ s. said
showed Joseph Smith where the Bible
was hidden. The border is encircied