Plate 4: From Portfolio "Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania" c. 1939

This plate is from a 1939 portfolio documenting folk art of rural Pennsylvania. The image is a reproduction of a sgraffito plate made by Georg Hubener in 1789. Sgraffito is a decorative technique where a layer of plaster or clay is applied to a surface and then scratched away to reveal a contrasting layer beneath. The design features a stylized bird with a long tail perched on top of a stylized plant with leaves and flowers, all executed in a vibrant palette of red, blue, yellow, and gold. This piece demonstrates the rich tradition of folk art in Pennsylvania and is a valuable document of the artistic heritage of the region.