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HAVILAND & CO. PORCELAIN ICE CREAM PLATTER, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY THEODORE R. DAVIS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, COMMISSIONED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE SPRING OF 1879.

Of rectangular form with gilt-sponged incurved corners, molded and gilt in the center with a snowshoe on a striated pink and rose ground, initial "D" to one corner, the underside of one end with The Great Seal of the United States, the reverse with facsimile signature "Theo: R. Davis," printed "H & Co.," "FABRIQUE PAR HAVILAND & CO., d' apres les dessins/DE," and "DESIGN PATENTED AUGUST 10TH 1880." Length 19 inches.Theodore R. Davis was commissioned to design not only the inventive shapes of the pieces but to complete watercolor renderings which could be reproduced on porcelain surfaces. He had been an avid student of native American flora and fauna, and chose as the location of his atelier a place in New Jersey, "..convenient to subjects both from sea, field and forest, and whose isolation prevented the intrusion of visitors." The atelier is depicted on one of the series of fruit plates.The service was delivered to the executive mansion on June 30, 1880 in a formal ceremony. Duplicate sets identical to the initial service were made available to the public, and included oyster, soup, fish, dinner, game, butter, dessert or fruit plates, game platters, demitasse and tea cups.