CHINESE EXPORT 'SACRED BIRD AND BUTTERFLY' PATTERN ASSEMBLED PART DINNER SERVICE EARLY 19TH CENTURY

comprising: a 18 3/4 -inch platter; a 16 1/2 -inch platter; a 15-inch platter; two 12 1/2 -inch platters; an 11 5/8 -inch platter; a square salad bowl; a soup tureen; a rectangular vegetable dish and cover; a small rectangular vegetable dish and cover; two kidney-shaped dishes; a large footed tazza; two rectangular dishes; a warming plate; eight fish-shaped dishes; six small sauce bowls; a sauceboat; nine coffee cups and ten saucers; fourteen diner plates; ten soup plates; fifteen dessert plates; five dessert bowls; seven side plates; two small side plates; a French porcelain jug and a two English pottery square tiles. 108 pieces

Robert Gould Shaw I (1776-1853) to his son, Quincy Adams Shaw I (1826-1908), thence by direct descent.

Please note that some pieces bear CHINA or MADE in CHINA stamps indicating that they are of late 19th or early 20th century date. Overall some minor wear to enamels. Significant wear is noted below. 18 3/4 inch platter - good condition 16 1/2 inch platter - broken in half and restored, restored rim chip 15 inch platter - rubbed, two ground rim chips 12 1/2 inch platters - one broken in two and restored; one with a rim chip 11 5/8 inch platter - small rim chips, broken in half and riveted Square bowl - good condition Soup tureen - one handle a made up restoration Veg dish and cover - cover with riveted repairs and a rim chip; dish - good condition Smaller veg dish and cover - dish with crack across base, cover in good condition Kidney shape dishes- both in good condition (not a pair) Footed Tazza - good condition Long rectangular dishes - both in good condition Warming plate - has a filled hole on the upper surface 8 fish dishes - one has the tail glued back on; one has the tail riveted back on. Remainder in good condition. Note: These are European porcelain, not Chinese Export. Small sauce bowls - two have restored rim chips, remainder are in good condition Sauceboat - restored chip to spout Nine coffee cups - two have no handle, one of these is broken and repaired; two are cracked, one has a made up handle, one has a tiny chip to foot, remainder are OK. Ten saucers - six have restored rim chips, one is repaired, one has a rim chip, one is very rubbed. French jug - handle with riveted repair to base Two tiles - both with tiny rim chips, gilding rubbed Two small side plates - one with repair to rim and haircrack; one with a restored rim chip Dinner plates - one with riveted repair; two in good condition; eleven have small rim chips or rim chips restored Soup Plates - one cracked, one with riveted repairs to rim, eight with small rim chips or restored rim chips. Dessert bowls - four in good condition, one with a glued repair to the rim Dessert plates (note there are seven of this size not fifteen) - all with small rim chips or restored rim chips Side plates (note there are fifteen of these not seven) - one is cracked, six have restored rim chips, eight are in good condition.
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.

Much of the following information is taken from a dissertation by Dr. Lorien Foote, PhD,  titled "Seeking the One Great Remedy: Francis George Shaw and 19th Century Reform".

https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/5819/9930836.PDF?sequence=1

Robert Gould Shaw I (1776-1853)

It was Robert Gould Shaw I who "was the founder of a family that for generations enjoyed a privileged position in American society. His success indeed was so great that he was able to pass on to all his sons, and to their sons, and their sons, elite status. He had accumulated more than enough for all his descendants to share."

RGS was one of the founding members of a group of merchant princes who defined Boston society at the time; he helped transform Boston's elite into a self-sustaining distinctive Brahmin upper class.

His father Francis "had investments in real estate and conducted an extensive mercantile business, becoming one of Boston's most successful West Indian traders". However, Francis and his family were reduced to poverty during RGS' childhood; Francis had made a fortune, but lost it due to heavy investments in Gouldsboro, Maine; essentially, the American Revolution ruined him.

His father died when RGS was 9 years old; his brother was 4 years old; both brothers were brought from Gouldsboro, Maine to Boston and put under Samuel Shaw's care; Samuel Shaw became like a father to them; RGS never forgot Samuel Shaw's kindness. Quote: "I will not undertake to describe the influence that his kindness had upon my mind."

RGS had planned to sail with Samuel Shaw on his China voyages as midshipman, but fell ill; he remained in Boston and apprenticed to his uncle William Shaw. When William retired, Robert succeeded him in the family business, quickly outstripping the family's previous successes.

RGS opened his own auction and commission business in 1799 at the age of 23. He formed the partnership Shaw, Barker and Bridge in 1803 and then Shaw, Tuckerman and Rogers in 1805; the latter firm did extensive business importing English goods.

He dissolved his partnership in 1810 and continued on his own (eventually 4 of his sons became co-partners).

RGS was a merchant, importer and investor. He engaged in land speculation when he bought 30,000 acres in Maine.

His operations extended all over the world and he traded in the West Indies, Asia and the Mediterranean, benefiting from the contacts Samuel Shaw had established.

This is a quote from the American Consul to Genoa: "More than half the vessels entering this port have been owned by Robert Gould Shaw of Boston."

"Shaw grew rich from his cheap handling and distribution of China goods to all parts of the world."

"Like other merchant princes of his era, Shaw invested heavily in real estate, railroads, and manufacturing companies, using his commercial capital to build New England's financial infrastructure. He developed the waterfront of the North End, forming Commercial Wharf and its parallel streets. Taking advantage of Boston's rapid economic growth, Shaw invested $50,000 to build wharves for the city's merchant fleet, crowned by a 'magnificent block of granite warehouses' that housed the city's most successful firms. Robert Shaw received much credit for the harbor's 'forest of masts and spars, and a wealth of snowy canvas such as no other city in the Union could boast of'. He was also a prime mover behind the Boston Exchange and served as its financial director. From 1813 until his death he was a director of the Boston bank, serving as president from 1836-1841."

 

RGS built and secured his family's fortune: by 1845 he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the United States and in 1851 he as worth over $1,500,000.

He owned a mercantile firm in Boston where his son, Francis Shaw (father of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw) made his career. Though he was often referred to as a "wealthy Whig merchant", he was very supportive of his son Francis' abolitionist beliefs and was known to be generous and liberal-minded in his support of all his children's interests.

RGS married Elizabeth (Eliza) Willard Parkman; they had 11 children and RGS became the undisputed patriarch of his large extended family. He supported a very large number of family members financially.

A further account of the Shaw family history may be found at the following link:

http://library.albany.edu/preservation/brittle_bks/Crawford_Familiesv1/Chpt12.pdf