Crafting Freedom Exhibition
The New York Historical Society
New York Historical Society - Crafting Freedom Intro Video Exhibition Video
It was an honor to participate and be included in the Crafting Freedom Exhibition at the New York Historical Society, a powerful showcase that brings together work of Thomas Commeraw.
Thomas W. Commeraw was an early 19th-century African American potter and businessman, based in New York City. Thomas Commeraw was a formerly enslaved man who became a successful business owner, artist, and activist in early America - leaving behind pottery that still helps tell his story today.
What he’s known for
- A skilled stoneware potter who ran his own pottery business in Manhattan (around the 1790s–1819).
- His pottery—jars, jugs, and containers—was widely used for storing food and goods and is now held in major museums.
- His work is notable for cobalt-blue decorative designs and inscriptions with his name and location.
Background
- Born enslaved in New York City and freed as a child.
- Became part of the city’s free Black community and a successful entrepreneur—something quite rare at the time.
Activism & life events
- Active in abolitionist causes and community affairs.
- In 1820, he traveled to Sierra Leone as part of a colonization effort but later returned to the U.S. after hardships, including the death of his wife.
Why he matters
- He’s considered one of the most important early Black artisans in American history.
- For many years, historians mistakenly thought he was white—his identity as a Black craftsman was only firmly recognized in the 2000s.
In short: Thomas Commeraw was a formerly enslaved man who became a successful business owner, artist, and activist in early America—leaving behind pottery that still helps tell his story today