D2010-CMD-008. Garniture, black background.

Five-piece Garniture

Dateca. 1800

MediumHard-paste porcelain

DimensionsOH: 10" plus 2 1/4" lids

Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford

Object number2009-154,1-5

DescriptionChinese porcelain five-piece garniture decorated in underglaze blue and gilt. Decoration consists of river scenes in panels with the remainder of the body decorated with assorted sprigs.
Label TextAround1680, Dutch merchants first grouped Chinese vases into clusters of three, five, or seven to sell as garniture sets. Serving no purpose beyond decoration, garnitures were popularized by European royalty during the 17th century and remained an integral part of high-style English interiors. By the beginning of the 19th century, garnitures were owned by numerous wealthy Americans, including George and Martha Washington and George Mason. Decorative china was placed on furniture, mantelpieces, or brackets mounted on the wall. In 1732, Colonel Thomas Jones of Williamsburg owned a corner cupboard with “pieces of china standing on it,” and John Randolph of Virginia had “six small China figures on the chimney piece” in his drawing room in the 1770s. This set was presented to James Canby and Elizabeth Roberts at their wedding in 1803.
ProvenanceGift of Miss Beatrix T. Rumford

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