NO. 2002. CATALOGUE OF THE WASHINGTON RELICS— BELOTE. 11 



Three CJiinese vases. — Decorated in blue and gold with Chinese 

 landscapes and water views. A narrow band of diaper pattern en- 

 circles the top and bottom of each. The lids are surmounted with 

 the figure of a dog with mane and claws.^ The dimensions of each 

 vase are as follows: Diameter of bottom, 3§ inches; diameter of 

 mouth, If inches; diameter of top, 3| inches; height, 10| inches. 

 Lewis collection. Plate 16. Cat. No. 92386-92388, U.S.N.M. 



Chinese vase. — Decorated in blue and gold with Chinese landscapes 

 and water views. A narrow band of diaper pattern encircles the 

 top and bottom. Mouth flares outward. Diameter of base, 3J 

 inches; diameter of mouth, 5f inches; height, 10 J inches. Lewis col- 

 lection. Cat. No. 92389, U.S.N.M. 2 



Porcelain saucer. — Interior decorated with colored drawing of four 

 Chinese figures, two men and two women. One of the men leans 

 against a horse and is dressed in armor, the other carries a sword. 

 One woman is seated, the other stands by the side of a vase. The 

 interior of the rim bears a gilt band of geometrical and scroll design. 

 Diameter, 8^ inches; height, 1{ inches. Lewis collection. Cat. No. 

 92353, U.S.N.M. 



China howl. — Interior without decoration. A narrow band of gilt 

 encircles the exterior at top and bottom. The outside of the rim is 

 decorated with a succession of wreaths of red roses and green leaves 

 intertwined. Above the intersections of the wreaths are small dark- 

 blue triangular designs with concave sides. The side of the bowl bears 

 the monogram "G. W." in gold on a ground of golden-brown cloud 

 surmounted by a tiny rose wreath. A set of chuia of this type was 

 presented to Washington in 1782 by the Count de Custuie,^ one of the 

 French officers who volunteered their services to the American Colo- 

 nies during the War of the Revolution. Diameter, 8^ inches; height, 

 4 inches. Lewis collection. Plate 17. Cat. No. 92379, U.S.N.M. 



Wedgwood plate. — Of soft velvety cream color. The bottom is made 

 in imitation of closely woven wickerwork. The sides are of open lath- 

 work. Diameter, 8| inches. Lewis collection. Plate 18. Cat. No. 

 92385, U.S.N.M. 



Wedgwood fruit dish. — Of soft velvety cream color. The bottom is 

 made in imitation of closely woven wickerwork^ The sides are of 



1 The dog " Fo" is the habitual guardian of the Buddhist altar and temple. With its claws, mane, and 

 tail it bears much the semblance of a lion. It is often seen on the top of vases, forming the knob of the 

 cover. See Joseph Marryat, History of Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1808, p. 26G. 



2 Mrs. Alice Morse Earle, in her vp^ork China Collecting in America, New York, 1892, gives an interesting 

 account of the Washington china, and publishes a letter from Washington to Tench TUghman, of Bal- 

 timore, in connection with a notice which appeared in the Baltimore Advertiser of August 12, 1785, 

 annoimcing the sale of certain chinaware just imported from the East by Captain O'Donnell, of the ship 

 Pallas. It is quite probable that the 13 pieces of china described above, as well as the Cincinnati plate 

 described on page 12, were purchased at this time for Washington by Colonel Tilghman. 



5 Adam Philippe, Count de Custine, purchased the Niderviller porcelaia factory near Strassburg between 

 1774 and 1780. The Niderviller pieces are noted for the pureness of their colors and the richness and deli- 

 cacy of their decorations. Count de Custine was beheaded in 1793. 



