A CAROLINE HARRISON HAND-PAINTED SERVING TRAY. A gilt-decorated, hand painted, scalloped rectang...

A CAROLINE HARRISON HAND-PAINTED SERVING TRAY. A gilt-decorated, hand painted, scalloped rectangular porcelain serving tray with orchid decorations, signed and dated 'C S Harrison / Dec '25 / 1891.' With green printed mark. L: 11 7/8 in (30 cm); W: 8 ¼ in (20.8 cm) Provenance: The Richards Collection, Collector's Sales and Service, March 26 and 27, 1994, lot 286. Caroline Scott Harrison took up china painting early in her marriage, eventually establishing an art studio from which she taught. In addition to her volunteer work and other responsibilities as First Lady, Harrison often arranged classes in ceramics and other artistic endeavors for the wives and daughters of cabinet members. It was she who ended the practice of selling off furnishings at the end of each presidential administration. She also organized the china from previous administrations, creating what would become the White House china collection. This piece is dated from the White House in the last year of Harrison's life. She was one of two first ladies to die while their husbands were in office. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing