Pa. German Plate c. 1941

William L. Antrim made this Pa. German Plate, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, using watercolor and graphite on paper. It depicts a Pennsylvania German redware plate, which itself would have been made of earthenware clay. The real plate would have been formed on a pottery wheel, then coated with a lead glaze, which gives the ceramic object a glassy surface after firing. On the plate, we see a central motif of a stylized bird surrounded by foliage, and a circular inscription in German script. The original plates were made in a highly skilled process by potters working in small shops. They often combined utility with decorative folk art. Antrim’s recreation in watercolor captures not just the appearance, but also something of the spirit of the original, which served both aesthetic and functional roles in Pennsylvania German households. This delicate depiction reminds us that everyday objects are carriers of cultural meaning and skill.