Remarkable Survivors: 18th Century Red Earthenware Shaving Dishes

While speaking this past spring at Historic Trappe's second annual Americana symposium in southeastern Pennsylvania—which highlighted different author articles from the 2025 issue of Americana Insights—I was introduced to a remarkable survivor: a late eighteenth century slip-script decorated red earthenware shaving dish. Currently owned by Ohio potter Greg Shooner and previously in the inventory of Robesonia, Pennsylvania potter Greg Kramer, the piece immediately brought to mind another shaving dish. Held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, that museum piece is dated "1767" and adorned with similar objects, including a razor, scissors and a comb. Although the Met notes their dish was made in Pennsylvania, they provide no further information: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/7410.

Note: For more information about this year's Americana Symposium - see this article: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/03/2025-americana-symposium-at-historic.html

18th  Century Slip-Script Decorated Red Earthenware Shaving Dish

Adorned with a Razor, Comb and Scisscors

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Shooner

A View of the Back

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Shooner

18th  Century Slip-Script Decorated Red Earthenware Shaving Dish

Dated "1769"

Adorned with a Razor, Comb and Scisscors

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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here is the Shaving Dish on Display at the MET

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