James K. Polk White House Dessert Plate
France, circa 1846 - Diameter: 9 inches
 
A finely executed example from the Polk White House service, produced in Paris by Edouard D. Honoré and distinguished by its carefully modeled gilt border enclosing a shaped reserve with a delicately rendered botanical spray of violet-blue blossoms. The balanced composition and restrained palette exemplify the refined aesthetic of mid-nineteenth-century French porcelain produced for the American market.
 
The underside bears the printed iron-red mark of Honoré, consistent with known examples from the service. As with other plates from this commission, the individuality of the hand-painted decoration underscores both the artistry of the Paris manufactory and the bespoke character of presidential tablewares of the period.
 
Condition: Very fine, with minor chipping to the underside and rim, light wear to the gilt, and a note affixed to the verso with residual adhesive.