Pa. German Pie Plate
c. 1937
Elmer G. Anderson created this meticulous drawing in 1937 to document a piece of Pennsylvania German folk art, specifically a decorated pie plate dating back to 1786. The plate features two dapper gentlemen in tricorn hats and knee breeches, standing confidently amidst floral motifs and a ring of German text. These decorated redware plates were often inscribed with moralizing verses about the ephemeral nature of life—reminding owners that just as the clay vessel returns to earth when broken, so too do humans. Anderson's note at the bottom, 'Drawn to actual size,' reveals his dedication to preserving the exact details of these fragile historical artifacts.
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