An exceptionally rare nineteenth century slip-script decorated red earthenware plate from Norwalk, Connecticut, inscribed "Lafayette + Jackson," sold earlier this week, as part of the Rex and Patti Stark Collection at Hake's Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. This is the only object known to me bearing this inscription, where the decorator that applied the script appears to be the same hand that applied some of better known "Lafayette" plates from Norwalk, which were made at the Asa Edward Smith (1798-1880) Pottery: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/6009.
There is also at least one platter that reads "Washington + Lafayette," which sold as part Lew Scranton's Collection at Skinner in 2016, although it has been sold two more times since then, including at Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2021: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2021-11-19/lot-82/Rare-and-Important-Washington-Lafayette-Redware-Platter-Norwalk-CT/.
Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) was the last surviving major general of the American Revolution, where he made a fourteen month tour of the twenty-four states in America in 1824-25. This tour also coincided with Andrew Jackson's (1767-1845) first bid for the president of the United States in 1824.
After meeting Jackson in Washington D.C., the General accepted an invitation to visit Jackson's home and plantation in Nashville, Tennessee with the hope his campaign could capitalize on Lafayette's popularity and close ties to the memory of George Washington (1732-1799). However, Jackson lost the election in 1824 to John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), although he was elected the seventh president of the United States in 1828; Jackson was then re-elected for a second term in 1832.
For a brief history: The Asa E. Smith Pottery Company (also known as A.E. Smith & Sons) was a major New England red earthenware and stoneware manufacturer that operated in Norwalk, from the 1820s to approximately 1888. The business exported a lot of production, including a variety of objects that were shipped to New York City, which is demonstrated by an important script decorated plate owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reading, "New York City" - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/6046.
In 1812, Smith apprenticed in Norwalk under his uncle, Absalom Day (1770-1843), who also produced a variety of slip decorated red earthenware, such as an advertising sign owned by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta that reads "Day's Pottery."
The Smith Pottery was known for producing a wide range of utilitarian and decorative pottery, including a variety of scrip decorated objects ranging from political and patriotic examples, to religious pieces, as well as objects adorned with names and sayings such as "Apple Pie."
Nonetheless, the "Lafayette + Jackson" plate sold to a private collector for $4,748.08 including the buyer's premium: https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/306520/LAFAYETTE-1824-JACKSON-CAMPAIGN-IMPORTANT-14-REDWARE-YELLOW-SLIP-CHARGER.
Note: For more information about Norwalk - see Richard Miller's article in the 2016 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, Norwalk (Connecticut) Slip Script Pottery, the Potters, and Related Ware: https://chipstone.org/article.php/737/Ceramics-in-America-2016/Norwalk-(Connecticut)-Slip-script-Pottery,-the-Potters,-and-Related-Ware.
Slip Script Decorated Red Earthenware Plate "Lafayette + Jackson"
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