Plate

Art Historical Context

This elegant porcelain plate, crafted in China around 1860–66 specifically for the American market, the height of 19th-century export porcelain Measuring 8 inches in diameter, it features motifs of butterflies and birds symbols often evoking beauty, transformation, and harmony in Chinese decorative arts. Produced during a booming era of trans-Pacific trade, such pieces were highly sought after by American households, blending Eastern craftsmanship with Western tastes. Chinese export porcelain like this plate showcased advanced techniques, including fine white bodies fired at high temperatures and vibrant overglaze enamels applied in multiple layers for intricate designs. These dishes graced dining tables and sideboards in affluent U.S. homes, reflecting the growing influence of Asian imports amid America's expanding global commerce in the Civil War era. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing as a gift from Elizabeth Hazard and Marion H. McVitty, this plate highlights the cultural exchange that shaped American decorative arts. Its timeless motifs remind visitors of porcelain's enduring allure as both functional ware and artistic treasure.