18TH CENTURY PORCELAIN BIRD ON BRANCH, A GIFT OF MARTHA WASHINGTON TO COLONEL TOBIAS LEAR AND HIS WIFE.

18TH CENTURY PORCELAIN BIRD ON BRANCH, A GIFT OF MARTHA WASHINGTON TO COLONEL TOBIAS LEAR AND HIS WIFE. It has been family history for generations that when George and Martha Washington visited Portsmouth in the late 18th century, they spent a number of days and during that time, visited the home of Colonel Lear which was then occupied by his mother and Samuel Storer. In a book written by Charles W. Brewster titled, “Rambles About Portsmouth” dated 1859, he specifically states on page 266, “…the room in which Washington was received remains now with the same papers on the walls, the same chairs (made of cherry wood raised in the garden) and other furniture, except the carpet, which were then used. There are also in the room, three china mantel ornaments, a bird on a branch, … These ornaments were taken from Washington’s own manner, and forwarded by Martha Washington “for the children”.” In another book, “Private Affairs of George Washington” by Stephen Decatur, Jr., dated 1933, on page 40 it specifically states, “Washington, on his trip to New England the preceding Autumn, had seen Lear’s young nephew, George Washington Storer, and at this time he packed up three of these figures, exactly as he had explained to Lear, and sent them with some toys, to his namesake. One represented a bird on a branch of a tree. The bird had a broken bill when it arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which probably occurred on the journey to Mount Vernon although it is possible Washington’s packing was no better than his secretary’s.” George Washington Storer mentioned in both of the books was a small, later to become a career naval officer, was only a child at the time of Washington’s visit. On that visit, Washington had (according to legend) blessed the young man and purportedly stating that he, “be a better man than the one whose name he bears”. The small figure depicts a beautiful porcelain bird with brown feathered decoration on its back highlighted by lavender. It sits on a white porcelain branch ornamented with various flowers and leaves and has no maker’s mark on the underside but is probably of English manufacture. It is known that Washington was a man of taste and during his lifetime, purchased many English items. Accompanying this lot will be both volumes of the books mentioned in the above text. SIZE: 3-3/4″h. CONDITION: As the book states, the beak at one time was broken, now repaired. Also the tail had an old professional restoration. A unique opportunity to acquire an actual object at one time owned and handled by both George and Martha Washington and at one time purportedly at their residence in Mount Vernon. 9-98729 (2,000-4,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2148	$6,325.00	18TH CENTURY PORCELAIN BIRD ON BRANCH, A GIFT OF MARTHA WASHINGTON TO COLONEL TOBIAS LEAR AND HIS WIFE. It has been family history for generations that when George and Martha Washington visited Portsmouth in the late 18th century, they spent a number of days and during that time, visited the home of Colonel Lear which was then occupied by his mother and Samuel Storer. In a book written by Charles W. Brewster titled, “Rambles About Portsmouth” dated 1859, he specifically states on page 266, “…the room in which Washington was received remains now with the same papers on the walls, the same chairs (made of cherry wood raised in the garden) and other furniture, except the carpet, which were then used. There are also in the room, three china mantel ornaments, a bird on a branch, … These ornaments were taken from Washington’s own manner, and forwarded by Martha Washington “for the children”.” In another book, “Private Affairs of George Washington” by Stephen Decatur, Jr., dated 1933, on page 40 it specifically states, “Washington, on his trip to New England the preceding Autumn, had seen Lear’s young nephew, George Washington Storer, and at this time he packed up three of these figures, exactly as he had explained to Lear, and sent them with some toys, to his namesake. One represented a bird on a branch of a tree. The bird had a broken bill when it arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which probably occurred on the journey to Mount Vernon although it is possible Washington’s packing was no better than his secretary’s.” George Washington Storer mentioned in both of the books was a small, later to become a career naval officer, was only a child at the time of Washington’s visit. On that visit, Washington had (according to legend) blessed the young man and purportedly stating that he, “be a better man than the one whose name he bears”. The small figure depicts a beautiful porcelain bird with brown feathered decoration on its back highlighted by lavender. It sits on a white porcelain branch ornamented with various flowers and leaves and has no maker’s mark on the underside but is probably of English manufacture. It is known that Washington was a man of taste and during his lifetime, purchased many English items. Accompanying this lot will be both volumes of the books mentioned in the above text. SIZE: 3-3/4″h. CONDITION: As the book states, the beak at one time was broken, now repaired. Also the tail had an old professional restoration. A unique opportunity to acquire an actual object at one time owned and handled by both George and Martha Washington and at one time purportedly at their residence in Mount Vernon. 9-98729 (2,000-4,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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