The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston has agreed to return two 1857 ceramic jars by David Drake, an enslaved Black potter, to his living descendants. One vessel will remain on loan to the museum for at least two years, while the other—the "Poem Jar"—has been purchased back by the MFA from the heirs for an undisclosed sum, now carrying a "certificate of ethical ownership." The museum acknowledges that Drake created the works involuntarily and without compensation, marking the first time the MFA has resolved a claim for art wrongfully taken under U.S. slavery.
This agreement is considered groundbreaking in the art world, applying principles of ethical restitution to artwork made by enslaved Americans for the first time. The MFA has drawn on its experience with Holocaust restitution and repatriation of African and Native American collections to address this case. The return not only recognizes Drake's historical exploitation but also reconnects his descendants with his legacy, as one heir noted the family's journey "from being slaves to having a family of engineers and doctors." The "Poem Jar" will be moved to a more prominent location in the museum's renovated Art of Americas wing in 2026.