Theodore Russell Davis and Haviland & Co.
“A Special Oyster Plate”
1878-1885
Scroll
Physical Qualities
Porcelain, enamel, gilt, 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Jonathan W. Kolker, Baltimore, in Memory of Irving and Rosa Kolker
Object Number
1999.135
Davis designed a small but elaborate version of the Victorian oyster plate, with trompe l’oeil (fool the eye) blue point oyster shells that could hold five fresh oysters. He furthered the illusion by including a ceramic “cluster of the raccoon oysters which are so well known in the Southern Atlantic States.”
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1999; Jonathan W. Kolker, Baltimore, MD by descent, 1980s; Irving Mason (1895-1957) and Rosa Jacobson Kolker (1907-1998), Baltimore, MD by purchase
Former Prov - check files
Estate of Evalyn Walsh McClean
Former Prov - check files
Estate of Evalyn Walsh McClean
AMW Reinstallation 2014
American Wing Rotations 2020
American Wing Rotations 2021
American Wing Rotations 2022
American Wing Rotations 2023
American Wing Rotations 2024
American Wing Rotations 2025
Benskin, Elizabeth, and Suzy Wolffe. Teacher's Guide to the American Collection. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Museum of Art, 2014, pages 55 and 62.
Haviland and Co., The White House Porcelain Service, Designs by an American Arts, illustrating exclusively American Fauna and Flora, 1879.
Meredith Galleries. "The estates of Evalyn Walch McLean and J. R. McLean by order of judge Thurman Arnols and American Security Trust," Meredith Gallieries 1948.
https://search.worldcat.org/title/1474798634
Russell, Francis. "The Shadow of Blooming Grove, Warren G. Harding in His Times," New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968, p. 448 (this is considered a rare book, may be hard to find)
Klapthor, Margaret Brown. "Official White House China: 1789 to the Present," Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1975.
"Evalyn Walsh McLean papers, 1874-1948," Library of Congress, MSS32318 (information about Evalyn Walsh McLean in summary)
Meredith Galleries. "The estates of Evalyn Walch McLean and J. R. McLean by order of judge Thurman Arnols and American Security Trust," Meredith Gallieries 1948.
https://search.worldcat.org/title/1474798634
Russell, Francis. "The Shadow of Blooming Grove, Warren G. Harding in His Times," New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968, p. 448 (this is considered a rare book, may be hard to find)
Klapthor, Margaret Brown. "Official White House China: 1789 to the Present," Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1975.
"Evalyn Walsh McLean papers, 1874-1948," Library of Congress, MSS32318 (information about Evalyn Walsh McLean in summary)
Inscribed: None
Markings: UNDERNEATH, (painted), 'FABRIQUE PAR/HAVILAND & Co./d'apres les dessins/DE (red)/Theo. R. Davis (black)/H&Co (underlined, all in green)/DESIGN PATENTED AUGUST 10th 1880 (blue)'
On View at the BMA
