Exceedingly Rare and Important Slip-Decorated Redware Alphabet Charger, Signed "AD", Absalom Day, Norwalk, CT, early 19th century, with coggled edge, the interior decorated in yellow slip with the conjoined initials, "AD", and the letters, "ABC", in script, interspersed with wavy trails. This plate was made by the influential Norwalk, CT potter and Methodist minister, Absalom Day (1770-1842), as indicated by the conjoined initials, "AD". In our research, we can find only one other redware article bearing Day's personal signature, a slip-decorated loaf dish in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, NY, also inscribed with his conjoined initials. Another highly-important dish, bearing the inscription, "Day's Pottery", was sold as part of the Barry Cohen Collection by David Schorsch and America Hurrah in 1990. The Day alphabet plate to be auctioned is significant, not only its signature, but in its early date of manufacture. This plate predates nearly all known inscribed Norwalk plates, which have become popular in redware and folk art circles for their yellow-slip names, food items, and slogans. Most such examples were produced decades later, at the pottery of Day's apprentice, Asa E. Smith. This charger is possibly the earliest Connecticut redware alphabet plate known, and can be viewed as a precursor to the popular "Norwalk plates" commonly produced by Smith years later. It strongly suggests that Smith learned to produce his alphabet plates from Day during his apprenticeship, that this popular Norwalk inscription (and possibly others) were not Smith's invention. Interestingly also, its surface is not entirely concerned with its inscription, as later Norwalk plates are, as this plate incorporates more slip-trailed line decoration, in this case utilizing a three-quilled slip cup in three rows. Later Smith plates from Norwalk have simpler, single-line decoration, if any at all. Also of note is the penmanship of the inscribed "ABC" on this example; it is noticeably different than that found on Smith-period "ABC" plates, of which several have survived, and whose inscriptions are often attributed to the Spencerian script master, Henry Chichester. Few New England slip-decorated plates with signatures have survived and this example offers rare insight into the genesis of this popular Norwalk form. Provenance: From a recently-surfaced NC collection, purchased by the consignor decades ago. Flakes to interior. A tightly-sealed, approximately 10" crack from edge. Three areas of exfoliation to underside near edge. A 1/2" rim chip and other, minor rim wear. Diameter 14".