Milwaukee Art Museum Returns 2 Ceramics to Descendants of Enslaved Potter David Drake

**Milwaukee Art Museum Returns Artwork of Enslaved Ceramicist to Descendants**

The Milwaukee Art Museum has made the significant decision to return two historic stoneware vessels created by the renowned 19th-century potter, David Drake, to his descendants. Known affectionately as “Dave the Potter,” Drake was born around 1800 in South Carolina and lived during a time when it was illegal for enslaved individuals to read or write. Despite this oppression, he became famous for his artistic works, which were often inscribed with dates and his signature, alongside short poetic verses.

Drake’s descendants, including Pauline Baker and her son Yaba, have expressed their pride in reclaiming their ancestor’s work, referring to him as an “unsung hero” in Black history. They have been on a journey of rediscovery about their family’s legacy, having only learned about Drake’s significant contributions to pottery a decade ago. Their aim is to both celebrate his artistry and ensure that his legacy is preserved for future generations.

Kantara Souffrant, the Senior Director of Community Dialogue and Adult Programmes at the Milwaukee Art Museum, explained that returning these artefacts allows the family to reconnect with their ancestry and history. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, she stated that these items hold great meaning, providing opportunities for families to come together, including those who may not have previously realised they were related.

On September 9, the Milwaukee Art Museum officially returned the two stoneware vessels to Drake’s family, further emphasising a growing trend among cultural institutions to rectify historical injustices. Notably, the Dave the Potter Legacy Trust has reached similar agreements with other prominent institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Georgia Museum of Art earlier this year.

The discovery of their ancestor’s legacy has been a powerful experience for Drake’s family. Daisy Whitner, another descendant, has pointed out the disconnect many African Americans experience when it comes to tracing their lineage due to the legacy of slavery. She highlighted the challenges in knowing one’s heritage, stating, “Because of slavery, so many African Americans don’t even know where to start. We don’t know who our people are.”

In recent years, the financial value of Drake’s work has also come to prominence. A 25-gallon stoneware “poem jar” crafted by him garnered an astonishing $1.56 million at auction in 2021, setting a record for American pottery. Despite this, Drake’s descendants have previously not benefited from such sales, illustrating a broader issue concerning restitution and the rightful ownership of enslaved individuals’ creations.

Yaba Baker, Drake’s great-great-great-great-grandson, emphasised the importance of these pots as both cultural artifacts and financial assets for their family. He noted, “These pots are assets, and families are going to use them to build generational wealth or pass them down.” Baker also articulated the need for justice in how historical artworks are treated: “It doesn’t make sense for this to continue. Why should this work benefit other families and not ours?”

Drake’s work was first brought to public attention at the Milwaukee Art Museum in 2010 through an exhibition by the Chipstone Foundation. The foundation acquired the two vessels from an art dealer in 2013 before gifting them to the museum earlier this year. Following the family’s expressed desire for a reunion with the artefacts, the museum ethically and legally facilitated their return.

Baker expressed enthusiasm about the public’s opportunity to engage with Drake’s work, stating, “All the jars that have come back to us that have signatures or poems on them are on display in a museum so the public can see them. Our goal is to make sure that the public gets a chance to get to know Dave.”

As part of the return process, one of the vessels is now permanently part of the museum’s collection while the other will be showcased through a long-term loan. The public can look forward to seeing these precious artefacts on display again soon.

The return of Drake’s work not only serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding art created during periods of injustice but also functions as a powerful testament to the importance of recognising and honouring the legacies of those who have historically been overlooked.