Plate

Art Historical Context

This charming earthenware plate, crafted by an unknown American artist around 1800, exemplifies folk pottery traditions of early America. Made from redware—a coarse, low-fired clay abundant in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions—its surface features sgraffito decoration. This technique involves applying a white slip (liquid clay) over the red body, then scratching it with a sharp tool to reveal intricate designs beneath. Here, floral motifs bloom across the plate's 8⅝-inch diameter, transforming a humble utilitarian object into a work of everyday artistry. Redware plates like this were sta...