Mid 20th Century Rare Mottahedeh Vista Alegre "White House" Porcelain Shrimp and Oyster Dish

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A rare Mottahedeh shrimp and oyster dish featuring a charming scene of the White House—an exquisite piece arriving just in … Read more A rare Mottahedeh shrimp and oyster dish featuring a charming scene of the White House—an exquisite piece arriving just in time for our nation’s 250th anniversary. This piece was produced by Vista Alegre for the distinguished Washington, D.C. department store Garfinckel’s, celebrated for its refined home and gift offerings. The design draws inspiration from circa 1810 Chinese export porcelain created for the American market—wares that blended Chinese artistry with Western architectural and patriotic motifs.

At the center of the dish, an 1848 sepia lithograph of the White House evokes early views of the presidential residence, complete with figures, lampposts, and horse-drawn carriages along Pennsylvania Avenue. The richly layered cobalt blue borders with geometric and lattice detailing are characteristic of 19th-century export patterns, lending both depth and formality to the piece.

Mottahedeh, founded in the 1920s, is renowned for its faithful reproductions and reinterpretations of historic ceramics held in museum and state collections. Many of its designs were commissioned by the White House, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting a deep commitment to accuracy and artistry in porcelain design.

The dish was crafted by Vista Alegre, Portugal’s premier porcelain manufacturer since 1824, known for its mastery of fine porcelain production and its collaborations with leading designers and heritage brands around the world. Their partnership with Mottahedeh ensured a level of detail and quality worthy of the historical subject it portrays. See less