MFA Boston Returns Works by 19th-Century Enslaved Artist David Drake to His Heirs
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston has agreed to return two works from 1857 by the Black potter David Drake, who made his ambitious jars while enslaved, to his present-day descendants.
The terms of the restitution of the two ceramic pots have been modeled after Nazi war-loot agreements.
- Pauline Baker, Daisy Whitner, John Williams, and Priscilla Williams Carolina, descendants of the artist David Drake, will receive the returned works.
- One of the vessels will remain on loan to the museum for at least two years.
- The other, a masterpiece known as the “Poem Jar,” has been purchased back by the museum from the heirs for an undisclosed sum.
Artwork: Ethically borrowed from the Dave the Potter Legacy Trust LLC, established for the benefit of the artist's descendants.
Photo: © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Author's summary: MFA Boston returns enslaved artist's works to heirs.