These Chinese export plates, comissioned by the Hemingway family of New York, are a rare and elegant example of 19th-century porcelain made for the American market. Bearing the initials H.L.H. and a boldly painted eagle—these plates were part of a custom service, commissioned to reflect both personal identity and national pride. The fine porcelain body, with its smooth glaze and delicate hand-painted decoration, showcases the exceptional skill of Chinese artisans who catered to Western tastes while maintaining their own artistic traditions.
Such pieces were highly prized among wealthy American families, used for formal dining or display in grand homes. Imagine them laid out on a fine table in a New York residence, a testament to both refined taste and the global reach of trade in the 18th century.
