Marbled Slip-Decorated Earthenware: From European Roots to Northeast American Archaeology and Surviving Objects

As previously noted on this website, an upcoming published article I have explores marbled slip decorations, spanning archaeological evidence to manufactured examples in southern New England, Long Island, and New York State. The article also highlights the popularity of this decorative style in colonial American archaeological contexts, with roots in Italy and England. 

For example, one of the extent dishes shown below recently caught my attention because it will be featured in my tenth book, though it is less heavily decorated than a piece I acquired a few years ago, which was previously owned by John Gordon of New York City. I originally purchased that Gordon plate because it closely resembles English marbled slip-decorated earthenware I have studied from various archaeological contexts, including the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area, Boston, and New York City (see below for Manhattan examples). This is also a style decoration that was imitated by Philadelphia potters in the 1700s: https://chipstone.org/issue.php/60/Ceramics-in-America-2025.

Note: In the meantime - this type of production is discussed from a different point-of-view in my recently published two-volume book, America's Great Migration and Awakening: The Red Earthenware of Western New York: https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/.

18th Century British Marbled Slip Decorated Earthenware Sherd

Recovered Years Ago Along the Hudson River in New York City

See Article for More Information

18th Century British Marbled Slip Decorated Earthenware Sherds

Recovered from Various Contexts on New York City

Circa 1670-1785

See Article for More Information

Photos Courtesy: New York City Archaeological Repository

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Marbled Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Manufactured in the American Northeast

The Colors Somewhat Resemble the British Archaeological Examples Shown Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Albert Hastings Pitkin Collection, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Marbled Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Manufactured in the American Northeast

Previously Owned by John Gordon in New York City

The Colors Somewhat Resemble the British Archaeological Examples Shown Above

See Article for More Information

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