President George Washington had personally acquired a large collection of Chinese porcelain, noted Chinese President Xi Jinping when addressing the White House state dinner on Thursday.
In fact, Washington began purchasing porcelain as early as 1758 and continued to acquire Chinese porcelain throughout his life. In 1786, he acquired a 302-piece set of Chinese export porcelain, decorated with the emblem of the Society of the Cincinnati.
These pieces offer a glimpse into the early cultural and trade ties between the United States and China.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service■
