Cake Plates
Original OwnerProbably originally owned by
Frances Caroline Adams
(American, 1825 - 1905)
Original OwnerProbably originally owned by
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
(American, 1828 - 1914)
MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1855-1875
MediumDrape-molded porcelain with overglaze gilding and enamels in pink, green, purple, and blue
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (width x depth): 10 3/4 x 9 5/8in. (27.3 x 24.4cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Eleanor Wyllys Allen
Object number1979.40.5-.6
DescriptionRound porcelain cake plates with gilding and hand-painted enamels in pink, green, purple, and blue. The cake plates are part of a partial set of teawares, consisting of a teapot (.1a,b), a lidded sugar bowl (.2a,b), a cream pitcher (.3), a slop bowl (.4), two cake plates (.5 and .6), nine plates (.7-.15), eight teacups (.16a-.23a) and eight saucers (.16b-.23b). The entire set is decorated with a naturalistic printed and hand-painted enamel border. The border consists of a green vine with large and small pink flowers and buds. The vine is highlighted with purple enamel and green leaves. The center of the large flowers are delineated with blue dots arranged in a semi-circle. The handles and spouts in this set, not found on every object, are in the shape of branches or acorns. The intersection of spouts, handles, and the body of the ceramic are decorated with raised and gilded leaves, probably oak leaves. The entire set is also decorated with bands of gilding at the rim and feet.
The cake plates each have an overall circular shape, with the exception of two expanded areas of the rim, in the shape of ovals. These two ovals are formed by raised, gilded decoration on the rim that extends beyond the circular shape of the rim. Each oval has raised vines and leaves trailing off of each side. Between these two areas of raised decoration is a portion of the enamel border consisting of pink flowers on a green vine. There is a circular band of gilding in the center of each cake plate. The gilding on both cake plates is slightly worn, especially along the raised gilded oval decorations. Cake plate .6 has an additional build up of dirt along the top and bottom of the rim, as well as on the center surface.
NotesProvenance Note: According to a letter written by the donor, this was given as a wedding gift to one of her grandmothers. Her maternal grandmother, Frances Caroline Adams (1825-1905), married Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) in December 1855. Her paternal grandmother, Ann Maria Gridley, married the Honorable Stephen Merrill Allen (1819-1894) on 15 April 1841. According to Arlene Palmer, the ceramics and glass consultant for the NEH Home Life cataloging project, the set dates from 1855 to 1875. Therefore, based on the grandmothers' wedding dates and the date of the set, the original owner was most likely Frances Caroline Adams Chamberlain. It is also possible that the set was given to the couple after their wedding. (Hunt 2/9/2005)The cake plates each have an overall circular shape, with the exception of two expanded areas of the rim, in the shape of ovals. These two ovals are formed by raised, gilded decoration on the rim that extends beyond the circular shape of the rim. Each oval has raised vines and leaves trailing off of each side. Between these two areas of raised decoration is a portion of the enamel border consisting of pink flowers on a green vine. There is a circular band of gilding in the center of each cake plate. The gilding on both cake plates is slightly worn, especially along the raised gilded oval decorations. Cake plate .6 has an additional build up of dirt along the top and bottom of the rim, as well as on the center surface.
Subject Note: According to family history, the gilded oak leaves found on various objects in this tea set symbolize the Charter Oak in Hartford, Connecticut. Palmer indicated that there was no "Charter Oak" pattern, as indicated by the donor, but that acorns and oak leaves were a standard ceramic design motif at the time. However, Frances Caroline Adams was a direct descendant of George Wyllys, of Charter Oak fame. It is possible that the family acquired the set in the nineteenth century because of the oak leaf motifs, or that later descendants associated the set with the Charter Oak because of the design. (Hunt 2/9/2005)
Status
Not on view
