Plate

Dateca. 1820

MediumPorcelain, hard-paste with orange, brown, black, and gold

DimensionsDiameter: 9 3/4in. (24.8cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Ridinger III

Object number2009-79

DescriptionThis shallow Chinese export porcelain plate is from a service made for Philadelphian Benjamin Chew Wilcocks. The border of the plate is approximately one inch wide and contains a stylized leaf and scroll decoration on a peach band. The central armorial crest of a demi-lion rampant emerging from a mural coronet is contained within an additional peach band ornamented with sepia and dark brown stylized leaves and scrolls.
Label TextChinese export porcelain plate from the service made for Benjamin Chew Wilcocks, part of a service which was made for him while he served as American Consul in Canton from 1814 until 1821. Wilcocks was a prominent Philadelphia merchant.

Benjamin Chew Wilcocks (1776-1845) was for a time in the early 19th century the American Consul at Canton and had a home in Macao between 1800 and 1829. He started as a supercargo with George Howell on the "Delaware" which arrived in Philadelphia on April 10, 1799. In 1803 he again was a supercargo on the "Pennsylvania." In late 1811, he returned to Canton as a resident commission agent. On January 19, 1813 he was commissioned United States Consul at Canton. Wilcocks continued to carry on his mercantile business, including the sale of opium to the Chinese. Although his services as consul ended in 1822, he remained in Canton as a merchant until 1827.