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Oyster Plate

Decorative Arts and Design

MEDIUM Porcelain
  • Place Manufactured: Brooklyn, New York, United States
  • DATES patented January 4, 1881
    DIMENSIONS 3/4 x 8 5/8 x 6 5/8 in. (1.9 x 21.9 x 16.8 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS On underside: printed in yellow within urn, "UNION / PORCELAIN / WORKS / GREENPOINT / N.Y."; printed in green, "PAT. JAN. 4. 1881 / U.P.W. / [head of an eagle]"
    SIGNATURE no signature
    INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions
    ACCESSION NUMBER 66.182
    CREDIT LINE H. Randolph Lever Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Oyster plate with polychrome decoration. Large clam shell-shaped plate with five smaller shell-shaped depressions. Four of the small shells are oyster shells outlined in black, with black and yellow form in center. The fifth is a scallop shell, outlined in gold. Decoration around all shell-shaped depressions consists of seaweed, snails, mussels, lobster claws, small crab, etc. Ground color seen around rim is light pink. CONDITION: Good.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Thomas C. Smith (American, 1815-1901). Oyster Plate, patented January 4, 1881. Porcelain, 3/4 x 8 5/8 x 6 5/8 in. (1.9 x 21.9 x 16.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 66.182. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 66.182_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 66.182_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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