The Earliest Decorative Pottery of the IVhite Settlers in America 
BLACK DISH WITH COLORED SLIP PAINTING 
I .—Dated 1826 . Brought from Germany 
From the Collection in the Pennsylvania Museum 
simplest utensils will naturally devote some 
of his increasing leisure to the embellish¬ 
ment of his wares, for the delectation of a 
sweetheart, a wife or an employer’s house¬ 
hold. Articles which formerly were intended 
to serve only a useful purpose are trans¬ 
formed into objects of vertu, to be carefully 
treasured as heirlooms, and handed down 
from mother to daughter. The chimney- 
shelf, the high-boy and the mantel-piece, 
where previously stood the fat lamp, the 
apple-butter crock and the candle mould, 
become resplendent with rows of ornamental 
pie-plates and brightly colored jars. On 
each piece is engraved a curious decorative 
device, or an inscription in the Pennsylvania 
German dialect, sentimental, philosophical, 
religious or humorous. Frequently the 
names of the makers or the recipients are 
added, and occasionally a date, recording the 
exact time of manufacture. In the absence 
of printed literature of a popular nature, 
these inscribed dishes afforded unlimited 
amusement and became very popular with 
the people. 
As early as the year 1733, as indicated by 
a dated example that has been preserved, 
ornamental earthenware was being made in 
the German settlements of Pennsylvania. 
The common red pottery was covered with 
a white engobe or coating of slip, through 
which the decorations were scratched, show¬ 
ing red designs in a white field, reheightened 
by additional tints obtained by the use of 
metallic oxides. The reverse method of 
tracing liquid “ slip ” of various colors 
through a quill on the red ground of the 
natural clay was also practiced, but to a 
lesser extent. From this time on, to about 
1830, covering a period of a hundred years 
or more, the twin arts of sgraffito and slip 
decoration flourished to a most remarkable 
extent. Then the products from the neigh¬ 
boring settlers of other nationalities began 
to find their way into the German communities 
and the home-made pottery was gradually 
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