Two Exceptional Dishes in the Collection of Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware

According to Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware, "Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) became interested in American antiques in the 1920s, and began collecting early American decorative arts and architectural elements. Between 1928 and 1931, du Pont greatly expanded his house, installing important interiors from early American houses and filling the rooms with his burgeoning collection of American antiques, resulting in 175 rooms, filled with exemplary examples of Americana.

In 1951 du Pont opened his house to the public as the Winterthur Museum, and what has since been recognized as a premier museum of American Decorative Arts."

While taking part in a private tour of Winterthur's red earthenware collection last Friday, I was absolutely thrilled to see these incredible dishes, which absolutely illustrate American folk pottery in the nineteenth century. Each plate sat proudly inside an open cupboard to the left and right of a red earthenware platter, likely made at the Asa Smith Pottery in Norwalk, Connecticut in the 1800s; the platter was inscribed in slip-script, "Lafayette." 

This Lafayette platter would be a prized object today, but it appeared so simple sandwiched in between these dishes, likely made in Pennsylvania. In fact, I hardly even noticed the platter, my eyes were immediately drawn to these pieces. But the small room was also filled with fantastic examples of iconic eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware and stoneware manufactured all over the country.

On first sight, these dishes appear very similar, but the subject matter is different - one dish is decorated with a bust of George Washington (1732-1799) and Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), with the inscription in slip, "WASHING.LAFAYETTE / 1793"' - whereas the other plate displays busts of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), with the inscription in slip, "FRANKLIN.JEFFERSON / 1793."

Marvelous Red Earthenware Dishes

 18th Century Red Earthenware Dish Likely Manufactured in Pennsylvania

Decorated with Busts of George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette

Inscribed in Slip "WASHING.LAFAYETTE / 1793"

Circa 19th Century

Measures 15" in Diameter

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Photo Courtesy: Winerthur

18th Century Red Earthenware Dish Likely Manufactured in Pennsylvania

Decorated with Busts of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson

Inscribed in Slip "FRANKLIN.JEFFERSON / 1793"

Circa 19th Century

Measures 14" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winerthur

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