A nice example of this well-known American Market service, this Chinese export porcelain 7 1/2″ plate is from one of two services made for two brothers of the Morgan family of Hartford, Connecticut – this one was made for the John Morgan service, as it simply is inscribed Morgan, the other service bears his brother’s full name John Morgan.  Of special interest as well is the fact that these services were ordered by their nephew, who was the ship’s carpenter on the Empress of China, the first American ship out of New England to trade directly with Canton.  Sadly, the carpenter died during the voyage and was never able to personally present the services to his uncles.  Illustrated and discussed in Schiffer’s China for America, pages 48 and 49.  Very good condition, circa 1784.