June 2024 • Nebraskaland 29
States in the late 19th century by way
of the world expositions in Philadelphia
and Chicago, which introduced
Americans to cultures worldwide. First
Lady Caroline Harrison, wife of 23rd
President Benjamin Harrison, could
be credited for the mania around china
painting in the U.S. Harrison's talent
and interest in the medium captivated
women all over the country, and
many of her pieces are on display in
the White House today, including her
design of the presidential china during
her husband's term, which would've
been used during state dinners.
The rising popularity of this pastime
also coincided with a burgeoning
middle class that found itself with
more leisure time, a major shift in
American society as a result of the
post-Civil War Industrial Revolution.
China painting was deemed an
acceptable hobby for women because
it was a way for them to decorate and
beautify their homes.
"Nobody ever painted china in a
soddie," Pelter explained. "You had to
have the time and access to a kiln and
access to porcelain. Now porcelain
is cheaper than dirt, but back in the
1890s to 1920s, china was expensive."
Then in the 1920s, china painting
died out, Pelter said — a casualty of
the Great Depression and World War II.
The Second Wave
Trends come and go, and china
painting was no exception. Four
decades later, the art form made its
Five of six plates that Pelter painted of the meadowlark, the Nebraska state bird. Pelter produced a total of
39 pieces for her "Nebraska Treasure" collection, which features Nebraska wildlife.
