Guangxu Era, 1879 two services of fine china were presented to Grant as gifts, from the emperor when he visited China in 1879. The center with a brightly enameled fish in blue, green and yellow, the border in the classic pattern. The set from which this plate came was likely acquired in Canton, China in 1879 by former President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) and his wife Julia during their world tour that began in 1877. They may have been commissioned to augment Grant's existing service of a similar palette, which bears the monogram 'USG' and was ordered in 1868 and delivered to the White House shortly after Grant took office in 1869. Several plates similar to those in lots 78-80 have a history of descending in the family of the Grants' daughter, Ellen Wrenshall Grant Sartoris (1855-1922), and the service may have been given as a gift to her upon her parents' return 8 1/2 in. Diam. for further reading see Nadler, "China to Order," p.166, fig.206.

Fine condition