Thomas Commeraw: the Black 19th-century potter who historians assumed was white

By Veronica Esposito, The Guardian

For Margi Hofer of the New-York Historical Society (NYHS), the fate of potter Thomas Commeraw – long presumed white but later proven to be Black – speaks volumes about how we look at race and history. “I hope the story of Commeraw’s identity is a cautionary tale to not make assumptions about identity when we look at objects from the past,” she said.

Although Commeraw’s pottery had been celebrated for well over a century by institutions like the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Grolier Club, it was only in 2010 that scholar Brandt Zipp revealed he was Black. Until that point Commeraw had been presumed to be a white man, as were most of the potters of the era. “When it came to light in 2010 that he was a Black craftsman, I was blown away,” said Hofer. “I knew it was a perfect exhibition for the NYHS.”

Hofer’s vision has now taken shape as Crafting Freedom: The Life and Legacy of Free Black Potter Thomas W Commeraw, on display at the NYHS through 28 May. “I wanted to specifically bring attention to Commeraw’s work and life – that’s long overdue,” she said. “I also hope this will inspire curators and collectors to look more closely and take more notice of these hidden stories – I’m sure there are many more uncredited craftspeople in New York.”

Read about this exhibit.

Occasionally, Americans discover their own Black ancestry, which was erased by slavery and racism.

Don’t forget to stop by our breaking news section before leaving.