Plate

Art Historical Context

This elegant redware plate, crafted around 1825 by Asa Edward Smith at Smith Pottery, exemplifies early 19th-century American folk pottery Produced in the tradition of potters, it measures generous 12¼ inches in diameter, making it ideal for serving hearty family meals. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, it was generously gifted by Mrs. Robert. de Forest in 3, preserving a slice of everyday American craftsmanship. The plate's medium—earthenware redware decorated with slip—highlights accessible yet skillful techniques of the era. Redware, fired at low temperatures from iron-rich clay, yields its characteristic warm reddish hue, while slip decoration involves trailing liquid clay in intricate patterns before a final firing. This method allowed potters like Smith to add floral motifs or geometric designs affordably, blending utility with subtle artistry in a time before industrialized ceramics dominated. As a cultural artifact, this plate reflects America's growing self-reliance post-Revolution, when local potteries supplied households with durable tableware. It invites visitors to appreciate the humble beauty of vernacular art, bridging the gap between function and folk expression in early industrial America.