A very handsome example of a Chinese export porcelain eagle-decorated dinner plate, made for the American market and undoubtedly part of a special-order dinner service whose patriotic owner remains to this point a mystery. Centered with a finely rendered sepia eagle supporting a blue and gold-striped shield, a banner reading E Pluribus Unum held in the bird’s beak floats above his head encircled in clouds and against a star-filled sky all within an elaborate gilded classical-style border. A dinner service made for John C. Calhoun bears a similar eagle design. Some wear to the gilding, otherwise very good condition. Measuring 9 3/4″ in diameter and dating to circa 1825.