George Washington White House China (1789-1797)

• Canton Chinese-export porcelain

• Prior to the American Revolution, Chinese porcelains arrived in the American colonies after having been shipped through England or Holland.  After the 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, North America began trading directly with China.

• Pieces were bought from Mount Vernon and bought from market.
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Gifted to First Lady Martha Washington from Dutch merchant Andreas van Braam Houckgeest, director of the East India Company, in 1796.

• Embodies American patriotism after the end of the Revolutionary War.

• Latin phrase “Decus et tutamen ab illo,” translates to “our union is our glory and our defense against him” – an insult to English King George III.

  features the names of the fifteen U.S. states at the time of the set’s creation, interlinked with a chain to express national unity.

• Around the rim, an ouroboros (serpent swallowing its own tail) symbolizes rebirth and unity.

Society of Cincinnati—George Washington

• Cincinnati Eagle and winged figure of Fame blowing his trumpet, blue Fitzhugh border on Chinese export porcelain.

• The Society of the Cincinnati was a fraternal and charitable association of Continental Army officers, largely the brainchild of General Henry Knox, the Society was founded in May 1783, in response to Congress's dissolution of the Continental Army.

• The Society took its name from the ancient Roman Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who was appointed dictator in time of crisis and returned to his farm, giving up all political and military power, after defeating enemies of the Roman Republic, he returned power to the Senate. The Society's name reflects that ethic of civic duty: Omnia reliquit servare Rempublicam ("He relinquished all to save the Republic").

• The Society has had three goals: "To preserve the rights so dearly won; to promote the continuing union of the states; and to assist members and families, and preserve the comradery forged in war.”

• Today, membership is hereditary, passing to the veteran's oldest son or collateral descendant.

• While George Washington was not directly involved in the creation of the Society, he joined the organization shortly thereafter and was quickly chosen its President General.