Society of the Cincinnati Porcelain Photos

The Society of the Cincinnati, founded 1783, is an hereditary lineage organization, whose founding members were American and French officers of the Continental Army who served in the American Revolutionary War. The Society is named after Roman citizen Cincinnatus, who left his farm to take an emergency wartime position as dictator of Rome. After winning the battle, he returned power to the Senate and went back to farming his fields. Society founders wanted the name to emphasize that Americans should not be dictators. Starting in the early 18th Century, the Society imported several versions of Chinese Export Porcelain with the Cincinnati seal for its members.

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Porcelain hot-milk pot with Society of Cincinnati crest made for General Henry Knox from China at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Plate with eagle of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Covered bowl with eagle of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Chinese export porcelain tray with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.
Porcelain hot-milk pot with Society of Cincinnati crest made for General Henry Knox (1785-90) from China at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Plate with eagle of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Covered bowl with eagle of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Chinese export porcelain tray with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati (c1790) at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.
Porcelain tea service from China with shields of Society of the Cincinnati at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Porcelain tea pot from China with shield of Society of the Cincinnati at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Chinese export porcelain custard cups & mugs with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Chinese export porcelain tea saucer with crest of Society of the Cincinnati at Shelburne Museum. Shelburne, VT.
Porcelain tea service (c1790) from China with shields of Society of the Cincinnati at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Porcelain tea pot (c1790) from China with shield of Society of the Cincinnati at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Chinese export porcelain custard cups & mugs with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati (c1790) at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Chinese export porcelain tea saucer (c1784-5) with crest of Society of the Cincinnati at Shelburne Museum. Shelburne, VT.
Chinese export plate with logo of Society of the Cincinnati was gift to George Washington at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Porcelain plate with figure of Fame symbol of Society of the Cincinnati imported from China at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Chinese export plate with angel of fame of Society of the Cincinnati was once owned by George Washington at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Porcelain plate with Society of Cincinnati crest made for General George Washington from Jingdezhen, China at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.
Chinese export plate with logo of Society of the Cincinnati was gift to George Washington at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Porcelain plate (c1785) with figure of Fame symbol of Society of the Cincinnati imported from China at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Chinese export plate with angel of fame of Society of the Cincinnati was once owned by George Washington at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Porcelain plate with Society of Cincinnati crest made for General George Washington (c1785) from Jingdezhen, China at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.
Chinese export plate with logo of Society of the Cincinnati was gift to George Washington at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Society of the Cincinnati plate from estate of Martha Washington at Tudor Place. Washington, DC.Porcelain vases with portraits of George Washington & John Adams from Paris & porcelain Society of Cincinnati plate from Jingdezhen, China at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Yellow & blue porcelain cup with bird symbols of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.
Chinese export plate with logo of Society of the Cincinnati was gift to George Washington at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.Society of the Cincinnati plate from estate of Martha Washington at Tudor Place. Washington, DC.Porcelain vases with portraits of George Washington & John Adams (1815-20) from Paris & porcelain Society of Cincinnati plate from Jingdezhen, China at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Yellow & blue porcelain cup with bird symbols of Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House Museum. Washington, DC.
Society of the Cincinnati medal from Boston at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Medal with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati by Tiffany & Co. at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Badge of Society of the Cincinnati created c1783 in Paris for officers who served in Continental Army at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Society of the Cincinnati medal (c1790) from Boston at Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT.Medal with symbol of Society of the Cincinnati (1920-40) by Tiffany & Co. at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Badge of Society of the Cincinnati created c1783 in Paris for officers who served in Continental Army at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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