An Outstanding Example of 19th Century Slip-Script Red Earthenware Production

For as long as I have known about this nineteenth century red earthenware dish, I have considered it to be one of the better examples of American slip-script in existence today. Certainly it is among the rarest inscriptions, seeing that it reads, "United States."  To my knowledge, I cannot recall having seen another object with this exact inscription before; in fact, I regard the rarity of this dish equal to a plate attributed to the Asa Edward Smith (1798-1880) Pottery in Norwalk, Connecticut, inscribed, "New York City," which is displayed in the Americana Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.

This dish was previously owned by William T. Brandon (1935-2005), an engineer who lived in Concord, Massachusetts, who was also an amateur archaeologist, historian and pottery collector. Brandon's collection has since been acquired by Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The term "United States" was first used in a Congressional declaration on September 9, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress changed what had been known as the United Colonies to the United States of America.

While I have not been able to exactly match the hand of the slip found on this dish to a known manufacturer, some of the letters and some of the swirls do resemble styles manufactured in Norwalk, as well as another pottery located near New York City in the 1800s.

The production of slip-script is well-documented today on red earthenware manufactured in Connecticut, Long Island and Pennsylvania. As a matter of fact, the slip-script produced in Norwalk, Connecticut was even the subject of an article written by Richard Miller for the 2016 issue of Ceramics in America - as well as an article about Long Island red earthenware written by Anthony Butera, Jr. for the 2003 issue of Ceramics in America. However, it is lesser known today that a similar style of production happened less than 20 miles northwest of New York City in River Edge (formerly known as Newbridge), New Jersey.

River Edge is conveniently located next to the Hackensack River, a passageway that certainly provided export opportunities to New York City, in what was a major market for both red earthenware and stoneware businesses in and around the city.

The slip-script manufactured in River Edge was likely most prominent at a business operated by George Wolfkiel (1805-1867), a potter who had relocated from Franklin County, Pennsylvania as early as 1830. He likely learned the potter's trade in Pennsylvania, which would suggest his New Jersey production may have originally demonstrated that influence - although, I suspect that he was also influenced upon his arrival by what was already manufactured in River Edge. Furthermore, he also produced stoneware in New Jersey, such as "salt glazed crocks decorated in blue with the American flag and his signature," which were apparently documented in 1920 in a loan exhibition at the Bergen County Historical Society.

Wolfkiel eventually purchased a pottery in River Edge about 1847 that was once operated by Henry Jacob Van Saun (1755-1829). Van Saun had established the business about 1811; whereas, his most recognized production today is likely a group of red earthenware plates that he manufactured during the circa 1824-1826 period. These plates were embossed in the center with characters like George Washington, Martha Washington and Marquis de Lafayette, which commemorated Lafayette's visit to Hackensack, New Jersey in 1825, and the 50th anniversary of America's independence. But this was far from all that he produced, where production certainly incorporated all the expected household forms used during the period. There was also probably an emphasis given to objects manufactured with manganese. I have also recently seen simpler utilitarian objects attributed to River Edge that could be interpreted as production from Pennsylvania, such as black glazed pitchers with bulbous bodies.

Archaeological evidence recovered about 1902 revealed a specific stylized "W" and "Y" among other slip-script characters that can be attributed to Wolfkiel's production. Undoubtedly, this is a type of production that survives today, which could possibly be unintentionally attributed elsewhere.

According to the Bergen County Historical Society, "The characters placed on the plates of George Wolfkiel include initials, names, dates, bird forms and abstract designs."

"United States" Slip-Script Dish

19th Century Slip-Script Red Earthenware Dish, "United States"

Measures 16 1/2" Wide

Stands 12 1/2" Tall

William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield

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