James Kilbourn's Cantonware Presentation Bowl

This Cantonware presentation bowl was given to James Kilbourn (b.October 19, 1770-d.April 24, 1850), founder of Worthington, Ohio. Son of an impoverished farmer, he set out on his own at 16, illiterate and poor. Self-educated and self-made, his life typifies the frontier entrepreneur. He founded the cities of Worthington, Bucyrus, Norton, Lockbourne and Sandusky, served in the U.S. Congress, and was active in the religious and political life of Columbus and Ohio.
Cantonware, or chinese export porcelain, was very popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The ware was decorated in underglaze blue in factories and then shipped to the west.