The Earliest Decorative Pottery of the White Settlers in America 
favorite one at the pottery of John Nase in 
Montgomery County. Many examples 
bearing this design have been found, with 
dates ranging from 1805 to 1847. These 
“ Washington ” plates are among those most 
eagerly sought tor by collectors of early 
American wares. They frequently contain 
inscriptions which are usually irrelevant and 
trifling. On the plate here shown the 
following couplet is engraved : 
“ Ich bin geritten uher berg and Dnt, 
Hob untrei fun ten Vwer. a hi ,"— 
I have ridden over mountain and valley, 
(And) have found disloyalty everywhere. 
t his sentiment has been altered on a simi¬ 
lar piece, of later date, to read, “ have found 
pretty girls everywhere.” 
embellished with a heraldic lion, was made 
by Frederick Hildebrand, whose pottery was 
in the same neighborhood. The inscription 
encircling it is also of a somewhat philosophi¬ 
cal character: 
“ Ich lei be was fein ist, 
li'ann schon nicht mein ist, 
Und nur nicht werden kan, 
So hob ich doch die freud darn," — 
I like fine things, 
F.ven when they are not mine. 
And cannot become mine, 
1 still enjoy them. 
David Spinner, who came from Switzer¬ 
land, was one of the most progressive of the 
Bucks County potters. His sgraffito etch¬ 
ings were considered the best that came from 
SGRAFFITO POTTERY 
XIV .—Plate bearing Continental Soldier and Colonial Dame. XV.— Pie-Plate bearing a Parrot, Tulips and Cotvven- 
Alade by David Spinner, Bucks Co., tionalized Fuchsias. Made by Andrew Headman, 
Penna., about 1800 Montgomery Co., Penna., 1808 
From the Collection in the Pennsylvania Museum 
Perhaps the most common of the inscrip¬ 
tions used by the Pennsylvania Germans is 
that which occurs on the tulip-decorated pie- 
plate, also the work of Nase, which is shown 
in Fig. VIII : 
“ Ich bin gcmacht von heffner sin, 
W 'an ich verbrech so bin ich hin ,"— 
] am made of potter’s earth, 
When I break then I am gone, 
which has reference not only to the dish 
itself, but to the maker of it as well, and the 
human race in general. 
The smaller plate in the same illustration, 
the local potteries. Characteristic examples 
of his work may be seen among the illustra¬ 
tions here given. Phis work was executed 
about the year 1800, certainly not later than 
18 1 1, which latter was the year of his death. 
An entire series of elaborately decorated 
dishes, which for many years stood ranged 
along the old Spinner mantel shelf, may be 
seen in the Pennsylvania Museum, Phila¬ 
delphia. 
In addition to the pie-plates and pan¬ 
shaped dishes, which largely predominate, 
various forms of utensils and vessels are still 
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