A 19th Century Slip-Script Red Earthenware Dish that was Previously Owned by Winterthur Museum in Delaware

This is an object that Virginia collector and dealer Nathan Fisher has been researching for sometime now after he purchased it a few summers ago from Pook & Pook Inc. in Downington, Pennsylvania. This nineteenth century slip-script decorated red earthenware dish was actually deaccessioned from Winterthur Museum in Delaware, where the museum acquired it in 1962 from Robert A. Raley (1924-2019), an architect and a graduate of the Winterthur program. 

Raley had a prominent career, where The Anthaneum of Philadelphia owns a collection of drawings and photographs that documents his life's work as a preservation architect. Other objects that Raley gifted to Winterthur included various types of early glass, stoneware, European red earthenware, textiles, furniture, books and an iron fireback that was made in Maryland in the early 1800s.

According to the information on file with Winterthur, this dish is attributed to the Mid-Atlantic region, whereas the inscription along the rim, reads in part, "1853 die hatnerin sie [die?] sou [gou] migt mehr ??? ???? Ko??." Some people have recently tried to transcribe this inscription into English, although the exact meaning has yet to be determined.

Furthermore, this dish was recently restored by Jeff Ingram in Laurel Maryland, who has done some incredible preservation and restoration work on stoneware and red earthenware made all over America in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, although especially with objects made in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Nonetheless, are there any thoughts about how this inscription translates into English? The date on this object is certainly appealing to me, seeing that this type of German or Dutch writing on Mid-Atlantic red earthenware seems to be more abundant with wares made in the region that predate 1840. Additionally, could this dish be European?

Note: This dish was sold in a group lot alongside two nineteenth century green glazed red earthenware saucers from Massachusetts that were also deaccessioned from Winterthur Museum, whereas I purchased those objects a few summers ago: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/five-redware-plates-and-undertrays-19th-c-62-c-7364dbe88e?objectID=172321645&algIndex=undefined&queryID=108550e3d618e9552a207db07eb8964b. These types of saucers are also discussed in my fifth book, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.

A 19th Century Slip-Script Red Earthenware Dish

19th Century Slip-Script Red Earthenware Dish

Attributed by Winterthur Museum to the Mid-Atlantic Region

Previously Owned for Decades by Winterthur Museum

Additionally Could This Dish be European?

Gifted to the Museum in 1962 by Preservation Architect Robert A. Raley

Most Likely Found in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the 1950s or early 1960s

Circa 1853

Measures 11 1/2" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Nathan Fisher

A View of the Plate After Restoration

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Nathan Fisher

Another View of the Plate After Restoration

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Nathan Fisher

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...