Some More Information About a Late 18th or 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Platter with a Marbled Design

This American-made late eighteenth or nineteenth century two-color slip decorated red earthenware platter with a marbled design is really great! I have actually posted about it a few times on this website with the latest article being from last week: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/12/a-very-good-late-18th-or-early-19th.html.

Interestingly, I completely forgot that I had the remains of another earthenware dish that was recovered from an eighteenth century context along the Hudson River in Manhattan; you can see where the potter who produced the surviving example probably got their inspiration. The sherd is from a dish that was made in England in the 1700s, whereas this type of pottery has been recovered from archaeological contexts throughout coastal New England, New York City, Philadelphia, etc.

Furthermore, the topic of American-made marbled slip decorated red earthenware plates and platters is a subject that I have been studying, as part of my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York, seeing that this type of production has been recovered from the site of the circa 1818-1831 Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York. This type of production also happened elsewhere in New York State and likely in Norwalk, Connecticut. 

But from what I have seen and handled, this platter also seems to be the most similar when compared to this type of English earthenware production from the 1700s. I think it is a very good object and representative of what was happening with some red earthenware potters in America during this period, where they drew production inspiration from other potters.

Additionally, I have also posted a group of related earthenware sherds with marbled slip designs that are all likely English in origin and recovered from circa 1670-1785 archaeological contexts in New York City. It would seem that the American potter who produced this platter was really inspired by English design.

Massachusetts potter Rick Hamelin also commented on this platter, saying, "The decoration may have been created with a two chambered slip cup having both black and white slip. A similar slip cup was used by New York potter Don Carpentier for mochaware."

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Platter with a Marbled Design

(Top) Late 18th or Early 19th Century Marbled Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Platter 

Made in the American Northeast

Circa 1780-1830

Measures 10 7/8" in Diameter

Previously Owned by John Gordon in New York City

See Article for More Information

(Bottom) 18th Century Earthenware Sherd Recovered in Manhattan

The Marbled Slip Technique is Similar to that Used on the Platter

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A Closer View of the Slip Technique on the Platter

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A Closer View of the Slip Technique on the Sherd

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This is the Sherd Pictured Along the Hudson River in Manhattan

This Picture is from Four-Years Ago

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18th Century Earthenware Sherds Recovered in Manhattan

All Likely English in Origin

All Recovered from Circa 1670-1785 Contexts

The Marbled Slip Technique is Similar to that Used on the Platter Shown Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: New York City Archaeological Repository

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