Qianlong Era, late 18th century pair of shaped soup plates with cobalt and star band border, center with floral festoons forming a star with ribbon and shield with initials JMW, gilt accents 6 1/4 in. Diameter. James Watson was a Yale college graduate(class of 1776), who became a lieutenant in the Continental Army and was promoted to captain at war's end. Watson would later go on to become a wealthy New York merchant and United States senator, from 1798-1800. For further reading, D.S. Howard, New York and the China Trade.

Each plate has small crack in glaze on verso, that does not show through on front, gilt wear