Made in Paris, circa 1873, with Illinois sate seal to center, surrounded by a pink and gilt border.

2 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 21 3/4 in.

From the Estate of the late Elinor Crittenton Strobel, Davidson, North Carolina, formerly Litchfield, Connecticut

This pattern was part of a large china service commissioned for the Illinois
Governor’s Mansion, probably by First Lady Helen Judson Beveridge in
1873. It features an interpretation of the 1868 state seal: an eagle holding a banner in its beak with the words “State Sovereignty” and “National Union,” perched on an orb inscribed “1818”—the year in which Illinois became the 21st state.
It was made in France by the firm of C. H. Pillivuyt & Cie., a leading producer of porcelain that enjoyed an international reputation, having won a gold medal at the International Exposition in Paris in 1867.
The French service was still in use in June 1903, when multiple place settings and serving pieceswere visible in a photo of the state dining room taken during a luncheon held for President Theodore Roosevelt. As late as 1918, a reporter called attention to “the famous Mansion china, which has been in the possession of the
house since Governor Beveridge held office."
Reference: Art of Illinois, An Exhibition of Fine and Decorative Arts Presented in the People's House, The Illinois Governor's Mansion, Springfield, Illinois. Featuring Works by Centuries of Artists and Craftspeople. Pgs. 90-91.

Large chip to far right; some rubbing to gilt and scratching to center.