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.”
