This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/23/2023
Jefferson’s White House Rare & Elegant China.
Extraordinarily rare china which is a bread plate or perhaps tea saucer from Thomas Jefferson’s White House Service, circa 1790’s.
This stunning beautiful white Chinese export porcelain serving plate measures 6.125 inches in diameter.
Center bears an exceptional hand-painted design featuring Jefferson’s neoclassical shield studded with 13 gold stars enclosing the script initial, “J”, surmounted by a plumed knight helmet.
Minor restoration, with some rim chips that have been repaired, otherwise in very good condition.
A very similar item recently sold for $25,000.
Provenance: From the estate of Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, a direct descendant.
This particular gilt “J” dinner service has long been linked to Thomas Jefferson, including being published in Official White House China by M.B. Klapthor, with examples at one time on display at Monticello, the US State Department Diplomatic Reception Rooms, and the White House.
Jefferson’s 19th century direct lineal descendants strongly believed in Jefferson’s ownership of the 1790’s “J” service, sought to re-acquire it, and then gifted four “J” pieces to the White House in the early 1900’s - where each piece has remained for over 100 years.
An incredibly rare opportunity to acquire such an attractive piece of US History, as most, if not all, of the other china from the first three presidents were destroyed when the British ransacked and burned the Executive Mansion during the war of 1812.
Authentication: Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.