Plate
c. 1785
Medium
Porcelain, polychrome enamels, and gilding
Dimensions
Diam.: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
7788
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The center of this plate depicts a fanciful figure of Fame with the emblem of the Society of the Cincinnati, a group founded in the wake of the American Revolution to preserve rights and liberties. Originally enhanced with gilt decoration, the blue-and-white underglaze border, known as the Fitzhugh pattern, incorporates flowers, butterflies, and Chinese decorative motifs. George Washington, the society’s first president, and Colonel Henry Lee, a Revolutionary War cavalry officer, both owned exte...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...