Chinese Export Dining Set

C. 1820
Medium: Celadon porcelain
Gift of Lenora Jackson McKim

Baltimore merchant Isaac McKim (1775-1838) was the original owner of this plate. After the War of 1812 McKim was hailed as a hero because of his financial support with the defense of Baltimore. This piece was likely shipped to America on his clipper ship Ann McKim, which made trips to China and South America. Made in China for the Western market, the butterfly design reflects both cultures. For centuries, the butterfly symbolized summer and joy in China, while in the West the butterfly was a symbol for the Christ who rose from the dead. This plate shows the skills of the Chinese artisans-the smallest of creatures as every hair-like fiber, every eyeball, and each antennae is rendered with supreme exactitude. There is something very playful and whimsical in a pattern that permits bugs and insects to emerge from a plate intended for dining! A portrait of Isaac McKim by Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) can be found at the Maryland Historical Society.

By Rachel Lovett, Curator