Incredibly rare James Madison White House nine-inch china dessert plate, made for the Madisons in 1806 by Nast of Paris, and used in the White House beginning in 1814. The plate features an undecorated center with the orange-ground rim painted in black and thick white enamel with a neoclassical border of nine floral and foliate medallions alternating with fern and scroll devices between gilt bands. Plate is marked on the bottom, “Nast a Paris.” In fine condition, with a few light surface marks and a few light marks to bottom of plate.
This china was pressed into service in 1814, after the British ransacked and burned the Executive Mansion in 1812. A total of 231 pieces were ordered in 1806, with research indicating only 30 original pieces known to still exist intact. Almost half of the remaining pieces reside in either the White House (8 pieces), or at Madison’s home in Montpelier (3 pieces). Five of the originals are part of the distinguished Raleigh DeGeer Amyx collection. This particular pattern ranks as the rarest of all presidential china, and the plate here offers an extremely rare chance to acquire one of the few privately-owned pieces still available. A significant, seldom-seen offering.
