Exceedingly Rare Oval Redware Loaf Dish with Profuse Yellow and Copper Slip Decoration, Philadelphia, PA origin, fourth quarter 18th century, oval dish with coggled edge, the interior decorated with foliate motifs flanked by looping bands of yellow slip, embellished with incised combing, and further decorated with brushed swathes of copper slip. Surface covered in a clear lead glaze. This work epitomizes the exuberant nature of early-period Philadelphia redware, in which the slip application dominates the object's surface. As time progressed, copper was omitted from the decoration and the yellow slip was used more sparingly and applied in a less artistic fashion. The remarkable decoration of this work is complemented by an extraordinary oval form and immaculate condition, a true rarity for redware of this age and origin. The majority of Philadelphia redware pieces of this quality experienced a poor survival rate after use and have been excavated in fragments in the oldest parts of the city. Arguably the finest example of early Philadelphia redware to come to auction in years. Provenance: Underside bears the pencil inscription, "Mrs. Fred G. Hill," a presumed owner of the dish. Excellent condition with some small chips to lower edge of rim, a 1/2" in-the-firing, glazed-over surface fissure to interior (not visible on reverse), and extremely minor surface wear to interior. 17".
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