L-R: Plate, Quianlong (1785), bearing the insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati; and guglet, Yongzheng (1733) bearing the arms of Lee of Cotton quarterly Astley of Staffordshire.

by Vivian Glover

    How a devoted but seemingly ill-matched couple assembled the finest collection of 17^th, 18^th and 19th-century Chinese and European porcelain in America and their connection to Orangeburg, South Carolina will be the subject of a lecture at Claflin University given by the collections’ curator, Mr. Peter Grover.

   The legendary and priceless Reeves Porcelain Collection, between three and four thousand pieces, was left to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in 1967, by Louise Herreshoff Reeves and Euchlin “Euchie” Dalcho Reeves, Jr., who was born in Orangeburg and attended the university’s law school, along with his good friend T.B. Bryant,

also from Orangeburg. Both Euchie Reeves and T.B. Bryant still have relatives living in Orangeburg today. Euchie Reeves’ family operated the Dukes and Reeves Fine China Store, hence his expertise on the subject and a major attraction for Louise Herreshoff, a wealthy descendant of a prominent New England family. At the time of their meeting Euchie was 38 and Louise 66, but it was love at first sight and for the next 25 years the Reeves indulged their passion for porcelain.

   Curator Robert Grover, who is bringing a few samples of the porcelain, will tell the Reeves’ story and the years of collecting, with color slides and descriptions of some of the most famous pieces.

   The Albemarle Corporation are the generous sponsors of the lecture and reception which will take place in the Arthur Rose Museum at Claflin University on Sunday, March 25^th at 3 p.m. Invitations are being sent out for the event, however interested members of the public are cordially invited to attend. There will be a parking plan for the event . Golf carts will be available for those who would like to be driven from the parking area to the museum.

   For additional information, contact Claflin University’s Department of Public Relations at 803-535-5351 or Public Relations Director, Helene Carter at hcarter@claflin.edu.