A PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT FAMILLE-ROSE OCTAGONAL SOUP PLATES CIRCA 1790

possibly from a service owned by Charles Washington.

One has several small filled chips to the underside edge of the rim and two small restored chips to the upper edge. The rims edges on both plates may have been slightly polished or ground. The other soup plate has 3 inch long fine haircrack extending from the rim and a 2 and a half inch haircrack running horizontally around the cavetto. There are numerous small chips and frits to the upper and underside of the rim.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

According to Gordon, 1977, p. 138, who illustrates a small plate from this serivce (part of lot 75 in the present sale), the service was owned by Charles Washington (1738-1799), youngest brother of George Washington. Two very similarly decorated plates are now at Mount Vernon. One of these, a round plate, came from the son of Judge Charles Burgess Ball, a great grandson of Charles Washington. Although the patterns on the Mount Vernon plate and the present plates are almost identical (the present plates having slightly larger flower sprigs on the rim) it seems unlikely that a service would have comprised both octagonal and round plates, unless it was ordered in two parts.