Richard White
@rhwhite.bsky.social
NYC-based 18th-century porcelain and decorative art collector showing photos of the crazy stuff he's bought over the years. Runner, too.
A fine soup bowl (écuelle) with cover and stand for sale at Christie's. And that's an understatement. Vincennes factory, circa 1753, gilt trophy decoration, possibly owned by Madame de Pompadour. The second picture shows how it was placed in Irene Roosevelt Aitken's living room. (see ALT)
February 9, 2026 at 11:48 AM
A fine soup bowl (écuelle) with cover and stand for sale at Christie's. And that's an understatement. Vincennes factory, circa 1753, gilt trophy decoration, possibly owned by Madame de Pompadour. The second picture shows how it was placed in Irene Roosevelt Aitken's living room. (see ALT)
This week's exhibition at Christie's, New York. The Irene Roosevelt Aitken sale. Here's the room of Meissen porcelain animals and birds on brackets on three walls, an 18th century menagerie. The photos do not do justice to the display. (see ALT)
February 8, 2026 at 11:31 PM
This week's exhibition at Christie's, New York. The Irene Roosevelt Aitken sale. Here's the room of Meissen porcelain animals and birds on brackets on three walls, an 18th century menagerie. The photos do not do justice to the display. (see ALT)
Since we're going to have -15F wind chills in NYC this weekend, I'm trying to think about spring. And finally using my Sèvres vase hollandois (circa 1758) to plant tulip bulbs. It's made in two parts, I'll water from the base below through holes in the lower section of the main vase. Wish me luck.
February 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Since we're going to have -15F wind chills in NYC this weekend, I'm trying to think about spring. And finally using my Sèvres vase hollandois (circa 1758) to plant tulip bulbs. It's made in two parts, I'll water from the base below through holes in the lower section of the main vase. Wish me luck.
An immersive room highlighting the Canaletto ("Venice...", sold just yesterday for $30M+) at Christie's, Rockefeller Center; a digitally recreated version of the painting for sale, with continually moving 3-D images. Perhaps it was aimed at brief attention spans but still an enjoyable experience.
February 5, 2026 at 12:20 PM
An immersive room highlighting the Canaletto ("Venice...", sold just yesterday for $30M+) at Christie's, Rockefeller Center; a digitally recreated version of the painting for sale, with continually moving 3-D images. Perhaps it was aimed at brief attention spans but still an enjoyable experience.
A very rare Vincennes large porcelain figure up for sale at Christie's in NYC tomorrow. A river god sitting on a dolphin, circa 1750. Glazed, which is rarer still for Vincennes-Sèvres. Amazing.
February 4, 2026 at 12:24 PM
A very rare Vincennes large porcelain figure up for sale at Christie's in NYC tomorrow. A river god sitting on a dolphin, circa 1750. Glazed, which is rarer still for Vincennes-Sèvres. Amazing.
Send in the Clowns! Day One (for me) at Christie's, Rockefeller Center. A group of harlequins/Pierrots/clowns on display and all up for auction on Thursday. Starting on the left: Mennecy, Meissen and Böttger. (See ALT)
February 3, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Send in the Clowns! Day One (for me) at Christie's, Rockefeller Center. A group of harlequins/Pierrots/clowns on display and all up for auction on Thursday. Starting on the left: Mennecy, Meissen and Böttger. (See ALT)
A small porcelain bowl manufactured at Chantilly circa 1740, with decoration of a flowering branch painted in polychrome colors in the kakiemon style. Possibly once a sugar bowl, now missing the cover.
With typical Chantilly decoration of a large brown insect painted on one side.
With typical Chantilly decoration of a large brown insect painted on one side.
February 2, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A small porcelain bowl manufactured at Chantilly circa 1740, with decoration of a flowering branch painted in polychrome colors in the kakiemon style. Possibly once a sugar bowl, now missing the cover.
With typical Chantilly decoration of a large brown insect painted on one side.
With typical Chantilly decoration of a large brown insect painted on one side.
A Sèvres porcelain round dish decorated with concentric lines in blue, two gilt with the "Lyres" pattern along the rim and in the center. Below two rings are bouquets of flowers, the central ring with a bouquet of two roses. Circa 1795, with the République Française "FR" mark in underglaze blue.
February 1, 2026 at 1:12 PM
A Sèvres porcelain round dish decorated with concentric lines in blue, two gilt with the "Lyres" pattern along the rim and in the center. Below two rings are bouquets of flowers, the central ring with a bouquet of two roses. Circa 1795, with the République Française "FR" mark in underglaze blue.
A 19th century Japanese celadon-glazed porcelain bowl painted throughout in the kakiemon style of ‘Three Friends of Winter’: pine, bamboo and plum, the interior painted with red-ribboned bouquets of camellias and chrysanthemums. Here in frozen NYC we need all the friends we can get this winter!
January 29, 2026 at 12:30 PM
A 19th century Japanese celadon-glazed porcelain bowl painted throughout in the kakiemon style of ‘Three Friends of Winter’: pine, bamboo and plum, the interior painted with red-ribboned bouquets of camellias and chrysanthemums. Here in frozen NYC we need all the friends we can get this winter!
Saw a letter at the Printed and Manuscript Americana exhibition at Freeman's auction house last night, there was a fine panelist discussion, too. The star of the sale is this 1789 letter from Mr. Washington. Some fine documents, etc., related to Mr. Lincoln as well. Amazing history. (see ALT)
January 28, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Saw a letter at the Printed and Manuscript Americana exhibition at Freeman's auction house last night, there was a fine panelist discussion, too. The star of the sale is this 1789 letter from Mr. Washington. Some fine documents, etc., related to Mr. Lincoln as well. Amazing history. (see ALT)
A Chelsea porcelain circular form broth bowl (écuelle) with fan-like handles, gilt highlights and a cover with a flower knop, all decorated with sprays of flowers. Red Anchor Period, circa 1755. The form probably inspired by one in silver and the decoration perhaps inspired by Meissen.
January 27, 2026 at 1:26 PM
A Chelsea porcelain circular form broth bowl (écuelle) with fan-like handles, gilt highlights and a cover with a flower knop, all decorated with sprays of flowers. Red Anchor Period, circa 1755. The form probably inspired by one in silver and the decoration perhaps inspired by Meissen.
A circa 1760 Mennecy porcelain soup bowl (écuelle) with cover and underplate, the bowl in a two-handled and ribbed form with painted flowers and blue-lined rims, the cover with a painted rose knop. Similar to a silver form; with typical Mennecy rose bud decoration.
January 26, 2026 at 10:38 AM
A circa 1760 Mennecy porcelain soup bowl (écuelle) with cover and underplate, the bowl in a two-handled and ribbed form with painted flowers and blue-lined rims, the cover with a painted rose knop. Similar to a silver form; with typical Mennecy rose bud decoration.
A number of Meissen animal figures, photos I took last year at the Zwinger in Dresden. Made during the 1730s and intended for Augustus the Strong's Japanese Palace. Several are also in Boston's MFA and the Met and elsewhere. Amazing.
January 24, 2026 at 12:24 PM
A number of Meissen animal figures, photos I took last year at the Zwinger in Dresden. Made during the 1730s and intended for Augustus the Strong's Japanese Palace. Several are also in Boston's MFA and the Met and elsewhere. Amazing.
I recently introduced Lucía Abramovich Sánchez of the MFA on Zoom for a Connecticut Ceramics Circle lecture on colonial Mexican pottery. During the Q&A both Lucía and I were asked about the pottery of George Ohr and we blanked. Shame on me and us! So here he is, and a few of his pots now in the Met.
January 23, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I recently introduced Lucía Abramovich Sánchez of the MFA on Zoom for a Connecticut Ceramics Circle lecture on colonial Mexican pottery. During the Q&A both Lucía and I were asked about the pottery of George Ohr and we blanked. Shame on me and us! So here he is, and a few of his pots now in the Met.
A circa 1740 Chantilly porcelain beaker painted in polychrome colors in the kakiemon style, decorated with wheat sheaves and flowers. Simple decoration, nicely done.
January 22, 2026 at 3:56 PM
A circa 1740 Chantilly porcelain beaker painted in polychrome colors in the kakiemon style, decorated with wheat sheaves and flowers. Simple decoration, nicely done.
Apparently it's Squirrel Appreciation Day so I better step up. Here are several 18th and 19th century porcelain items with a variety of squirrel decoration and forms. (details in ALT)
January 21, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Apparently it's Squirrel Appreciation Day so I better step up. Here are several 18th and 19th century porcelain items with a variety of squirrel decoration and forms. (details in ALT)
Louis XVI was executed on this day, 21 January in 1793. Marie-Antoinette was executed in October that same year. Here are four plates from a service they gifted to her brother the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria during the summer of 1786. (see ALT)
January 21, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Louis XVI was executed on this day, 21 January in 1793. Marie-Antoinette was executed in October that same year. Here are four plates from a service they gifted to her brother the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria during the summer of 1786. (see ALT)
A Chinese porcelain bowl decorated with blue petal-form cartouches of floral sprays along the rim and above the blue-lined base and with blue petal decoration on the center of the interior. Probably Ming Dynasty, circa 1600 or earlier. Roughly potted and decorated but it has some charm.
January 20, 2026 at 11:32 AM
A Chinese porcelain bowl decorated with blue petal-form cartouches of floral sprays along the rim and above the blue-lined base and with blue petal decoration on the center of the interior. Probably Ming Dynasty, circa 1600 or earlier. Roughly potted and decorated but it has some charm.
A late 18th century Chinese Export dish decorated in a version of the ‘sworl’ Queen Charlotte pattern in blue and iron-red with gilt highlights. Copying a Worcester (on the right), and others' pattern popular at the time, which was itself a copy of an Imari design. A pattern made around the world.
January 19, 2026 at 3:41 PM
A late 18th century Chinese Export dish decorated in a version of the ‘sworl’ Queen Charlotte pattern in blue and iron-red with gilt highlights. Copying a Worcester (on the right), and others' pattern popular at the time, which was itself a copy of an Imari design. A pattern made around the world.
A Chinese Export porcelain octagonal plate decorated in the Japanese Kakiemon ‘two quails’ pattern in green and iron-red with gilt highlights and a double row of leaves in red along the rim. A very popular motif, you can see it on porcelain from Meissen, Chantilly, Chelsea, Bow and more.
January 18, 2026 at 10:53 PM
A Chinese Export porcelain octagonal plate decorated in the Japanese Kakiemon ‘two quails’ pattern in green and iron-red with gilt highlights and a double row of leaves in red along the rim. A very popular motif, you can see it on porcelain from Meissen, Chantilly, Chelsea, Bow and more.
I can't say I'm obsessed with chickens and roosters, etc., but you might say I am because they do appear in the decoration on some of the porcelain I own. Appearing sometimes as a figure, not just decoration. Well, they're fun and they have character. (see ALT for the pecking order)
January 16, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I can't say I'm obsessed with chickens and roosters, etc., but you might say I am because they do appear in the decoration on some of the porcelain I own. Appearing sometimes as a figure, not just decoration. Well, they're fun and they have character. (see ALT for the pecking order)
A 19th century Persian square hinged box with a slightly domed top, decorated in different metals (gilt brass) and patinations with inscriptions taken from the Qur’an in Farsi. Beautifully incised.
No idea of any of the inscription translations, I'm not fluent in Farsi (any help here is welcome!).
No idea of any of the inscription translations, I'm not fluent in Farsi (any help here is welcome!).
January 15, 2026 at 1:20 PM
A 19th century Persian square hinged box with a slightly domed top, decorated in different metals (gilt brass) and patinations with inscriptions taken from the Qur’an in Farsi. Beautifully incised.
No idea of any of the inscription translations, I'm not fluent in Farsi (any help here is welcome!).
No idea of any of the inscription translations, I'm not fluent in Farsi (any help here is welcome!).
Received my copy of Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth's new book Lady Charlotte Schreiber - Extraordinary Art Collector, now available in the U.S. Nicely written, beautifully done. She was kind enough to mention me in the acknowledgments. Thank you, Caroline!
January 14, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Received my copy of Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth's new book Lady Charlotte Schreiber - Extraordinary Art Collector, now available in the U.S. Nicely written, beautifully done. She was kind enough to mention me in the acknowledgments. Thank you, Caroline!