the Birds, I painted them while alive (except a very few) and gave them their Gestures peculiar to every kind of Bird, and where it would admit of, I have adapted the Birds to those Plants on which they fed, or have any Relation to... Mark Catesby, 1730s

{HISTORY}

From the portfolio of the famed British naturalist, Mark Catesby (1683-1749) comes this beautiful vintage dinner plate featuring a bluebird nestled among branches ripe with berries. Initially titled The Blew Bird, this painting of what Catesby referred to as a "harmless bird" is now known as The Bluebird.  Capturing its likeness in 1722 in Virginia , this portrait was part of a series of fieldwork explorations undertaken by Mark while studying the natural flora and fauna of North America and the outlying islands of the Bahamas and Jamaica in the 1710s and 1720s. Focusing on the Southern region of the United States, which at the time was simply known as Carolina, Mark spent time in Williamsburg VA, Charleston, SC and nearby tropical islands to record all he saw in the way of bird, fish, and plant life. 

This portrait when on to become one in a series of Mark's published paintings for the collection entitled Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas. In presenting this grouping of 220 individual watercolor paintings published between 1722-1749, Mark became the first person to record an account of natural specimens of the New World. His work would eventually inspire many other well-known naturalists including William Bartram and John James Audubon.

Held in collections around the world including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Royal Trust, Mark's work was highly regarded for its detail, vibrant color palettes and inclusion of multiple subjects in one image. 

In the late 1970s, the American Preservation Guild in collaboration with Gorham Fine China reproduced a series of Mark's botanical works on gold-rimmed ivory-colored dinner plates. This was a limited edition collection with only 9,900 pieces made. This plate is numbered 190 of 9,990. 

Gorgeous in detail, the color palette is stunning, especially for the fall season with its rusty oranges and teal blue shades. Beautiful for serving or wall displays, bluebirds throughout history have long been associated with happiness and good cheer making this one an excellent companion to joyful kitchen life. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Limited edition series

- Numbered 190 out of 9900

- Colors include teal, rust, pine green, sage, mint, vermillion, sky blue, navy blue, auburn, walnut and gold

{CONDITION}

In beautiful, practically brand new condition. There are no chips, cracks or staining and there are no utensils marks. The colors are bright, the imagery crisp, and the glaze very shiny.

{SIZE}

Measures 10.5" inches in diameter and weighs 1.4lbs

{SPREAD THE JOY}

Find more bluebirds singing in the shop here. Find more Mrak Catesby birds in the shop here.