Virtual Lecture: Thomas Commeraw: Rediscovered African-American Potter of Federal New York

​The pottery of Thomas W. Commeraw, a stoneware manufacturer working in New York City 1797-1819, has been acquired by the highest level of American institutions since the early twentieth century. Always assumed to be a white potter of European descent, Commeraw's remarkable life story languished in obscurity until a chance encounter with a census record embarked the speaker on a long but rewarding journey to bring it to light.

An abolitionist, artist and activist who ultimately tried to found a new West African republic, Commeraw stands as one of the most fascinating characters in the history of American ceramics.
 
Guest Speaker:

Brandt  Zipp is the author of Commeraw's Stoneware: The Life and Work of the First African-American Pottery Owner, the culmination of nearly two decades of researching Thomas W. Commeraw. It was Brandt's own serendipitous discovery of Commeraw's identity in 2003 that brought this story to the modern world. Brandt is a founding partner of Crocker Farm, Inc., a research-focused auction house known for its high level offerings of period American ceramics.

​Sunday, October 29, 2023 
3:00p Eastern
Duration: 90 minutes
This is a free virtual event, hosted on Zoom.