Milwaukee Art Museum Agrees to Return David Drake Ceramic Pots to Descendants

Milwaukee, WI, September 29, 2026 —

The Milwaukee Art Museum has finalized an agreement to return two ceramic pots, created by the historically significant enslaved potter David Drake, to his living descendants. This decision marks a notable step in the repatriation of African American cultural heritage within prominent museum collections.

While the legal ownership of the two ceramic works will now transfer to the Drake descendants, the artifacts are slated to remain accessible to the public. The Milwaukee Art Museum intends to continue displaying the pots, ensuring their ongoing exhibition and educational value. This arrangement follows a precedent established by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, which made a similar agreement regarding works by David Drake.

David Drake (circa 1801–1873) was an enslaved potter in Edgefield, South Carolina, who gained renown for his distinctive stoneware pottery. He is particularly celebrated for inscribing his name and often a verse or date on his pieces, a practice unusual for enslaved individuals of his time. His work provides a vital, direct connection to the lives and artistry of enslaved people in the American South.

The return of these artifacts underscores a growing movement among cultural institutions to address historical injustices and engage in more equitable stewardship of objects. Museums are increasingly re-evaluating their collections and establishing protocols for the return of culturally significant items to their originating communities or descendants. The specific terms of the agreement between the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Drake descendants were not publicly detailed, but the dual outcome—repatriation of ownership coupled with continued public display—aims to honor both heritage and accessibility.

Story summarized from the original created by Michael Horne on urbanmilwaukee.com, see more information here.

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