Commodore Decatur Staffordshire Pearlware Plate
England, circa 1820 - Diameter: 8¼ inches 
 
A Staffordshire pearlware plate transfer-printed with the portrait of Commodore Stephen Decatur, among the most celebrated naval officers of the early republic. Produced in England for the American market, the plate reflects the extraordinary public esteem Decatur commanded in the years following the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, when his victories at sea helped define the emerging prestige of the United States Navy.
 
Ceramics of this kind played a central role in shaping the public image of American naval heroes, translating military renown into objects intended for domestic display. Decatur’s likeness appeared across a range of commemorative wares in the early nineteenth century, reflecting the extent to which naval triumph had entered the visual language of American patriotism.
 
Condition: Excellent.