New Exhibit at MESDA in Old Salem Examines Hidden Legacy of Enslaved Craftsmen
April 2, 2008
Contact:
Karen Jarvis or Jeanne Sturiale
Annese Public Relations, Inc.
336-722-1921
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Enslaved craftsmen were at work across the 18th- and 19th-century South, and beginning Tuesday, April 15, “‘Black and white all mix’d together’: The Hidden Legacy of Enslaved Craftsmen” recovers the stories of these often nameless individuals through the masterpieces of Southern decorative arts, including ceramics, silver, and furniture, which they helped to create. The exhibit runs through September 15 at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) at Old Salem Museums & Gardens.
”This exhibit marks the first time that MESDA has taken a serious look at the African-American contribution to the early South’s cultural history, drawing deeply upon the resources here in our research center and, of course, the collection itself,” said Robert Leath, Vice President of Collections at Old Salem Museums & Gardens.
Among the featured objects is a signed jar made in 1858 by David Drake, an enslaved potter from Edgefield, S.C., who boldly inscribed its side with a verse from the book of Revelation at a time when it was illegal to teach a slave to read or write.
Also included is a remarkable carved corner chair made in the Fredericksburg, Va., workshop of Robert Walker, a cabinetmaker who took on at least one enslaved apprentice.
Other important objects include one of the earliest known face jars from Edgefield; a mid-18th century Charleston, S.C., teapot made in the slave-owning workshop of silversmith Alexander Petrie; and an iron fireback dated 1778 that boldly proclaims “Liberty or Death.”
An online version of this exhibit is available at MESDA.org.
About Old Salem
Old Salem Museums & Gardens is one of America’s most comprehensive history attractions. Its three museums – the Historic Town of Salem, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), and the Old Salem Toy Museum – engage visitors in an educational and memorable historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South.
