Platter with Drainer

Art Historical Context

This elegant **Platter with Drainer**, crafted in porcelain around 1785–90, stands at an impressive 15⅜ inches (39.1 cm) high and exemplifies the artistry of Chinese export wares tailored for the American market. during the early years of the United States, when trans-Pacific trade flourished via ports like Canton and Salem, it combines practicality—a built-in drainer for serving fish or sauces—with luxurious decoration. Delicate motifs of birds and flowers frame a central coat of arms, painted likely in underglaze blue, a hallmark technique of Chinese porcelain kilns that ensured vibrant, dur...