Milwaukee Art Museum Returned Historic Jars to Descendants
The museum transferred two stoneware vessels created by enslaved potter David Drake to his family.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in African-American
Live Poll
Should museums return historical artifacts to the descendants of the enslaved people who created them?
The Milwaukee Art Museum has returned two historic stoneware jars created by the enslaved potter David Drake to his descendants. One of the returned vessels was purchased back by the museum to remain on permanent display.
Why it matters
The restitution follows a push by the family of David Drake to reclaim their ancestor's work and reconnect with their heritage. This move acknowledges the historical significance of the pieces created by Drake while he was enslaved in South Carolina during the 1800s.
The museum returned two stoneware jars, one of which features an 1855 inscription. Comparable works, such as David Drake's signed poem-jars, have previously sold at auction for as much as $1.56 million.
The players
David Drake
He was a highly skilled enslaved potter in South Carolina who gained recognition for inscribing his name and poems on his stoneware vessels.
Milwaukee Art Museum
It is a prominent art institution that maintains a collection of historic works and hosts The Dave Project exhibition.
Chipstone Foundation
This organization previously held the stoneware jars before donating them to the museum to support the restitution process.
The details
The Milwaukee Art Museum secured the donation of the jars from the Chipstone Foundation to facilitate the return to the artist's family. The museum continues to showcase Drake's legacy through its ongoing exhibition, The Dave Project.
Timeline
David Drake created the stoneware jars during the 1800s while he was enslaved.
A rare poem-jar by the artist was sold at auction for $1.56 million in 2021.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston reached a similar restitution agreement in October 2025.
The Milwaukee Art Museum completed the restitution to the descendants in September 2026.
Culture Shift
This restitution reflects a broader societal shift toward acknowledging the provenance of works created by enslaved artisans. It aligns with growing institutional efforts to address historical injustices by returning cultural heritage to the families of creators.
Residents and visitors can continue to view the historic artwork at the Milwaukee Art Museum through the ongoing loan agreement. The return of these pieces marks a significant moment for the local community in honoring the legacy of David Drake.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of institutional transparency regarding the provenance of historical items created under forced labor. Families looking to reconnect with ancestral legacies can look to these recent museum agreements as a potential pathway for recovering significant cultural artifacts.
What happens next
The museum is expected to announce the restitution publicly on Monday, with two additional significant restitutions pending board approval in October.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving history of African-American cultural heritage and restorative efforts.
Live Poll
Should museums return historical artifacts to the descendants of the enslaved people who created them?
