James K. Polk White House Dessert Plate
France, circa 1846 - Diameter: 9 inches
 
A refined example from the official White House service commissioned during the presidency of James K. Polk and produced in Paris by Edouard D. Honoré. The plate is distinguished by its soft green border enriched with molded gilt scrollwork, framing a shaped reserve centered by a finely painted botanical study of a yellow rose, with accompanying bud and naturalistic foliage. At the crest, an early American shield surmounted by a ribbon bearing E Pluribus Unum reflects period national iconography, the star count corresponding to the expanding Union.
 
Of particular note, the verso retains an early handwritten presentation inscription attributing the piece as a gift from Abraham Lincoln to a Post Office Department employee, consistent with the documented dispersal of earlier White House services during his administration. This association adds a compelling layer of historical interest, linking two presidential eras through a single object of use and display.
 
Condition: Very fine, with a ⅞-inch hairline to the verso intersecting a small associated chip.