Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Jar

1796–1819
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 723
This vessel was made by Thomas W. Commeraw, a free African American potter working in Manhattan's Lower East Side during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Commeraw operated a kiln in Corlears Hook, the area along the shoreline of the East River now between the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridge. Like most stoneware of the period, Commeraw's vessels were largely utilitarian and embellished with incised decoration accented with a cobalt glaze. The distinctive foliate design found on both sides of this jar are typical of Commeraw's wares and distinguish his vessels from those of other New York City potters of the early 19th century. Commeraw's is the largest body of work by a free Black potter during the antebellum period.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Jar
  • Maker: Thomas W. Commeraw (active 1796–1819) or
  • Date: 1796–1819
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Stoneware
  • Dimensions: 9 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 6 3/4 in. (24.1 × 21.6 × 21.6 × 17.1 cm)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
  • Object Number: 18.95.13
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
The Magnolia Vase, Tiffany & Co. American, Silver, enamel, gold, and opals, American
The Magnolia Vase
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
1893
Storage jar, Dave (later recorded as David Drake) ; made at Stony Bluff Manufactory, Old Edgefield District, Sout American, Alkaline-glazed stoneware, American
Storage jar
Dave (later recorded as David Drake)
Manufacturer Stony Bluff Manufactory
1858
George Washington, Gilbert Stuart American, Oil on canvas, American
George Washington
Gilbert Stuart
begun 1795
Wardrobe, Herter Brothers American, Cherry, American
Wardrobe
Herter Brothers
1875–1883
Freshwater Jar (Mizusashi) with Geometric Patterns, Ogata Ihachi (Kyoto Kenzan II) Japanese, Stoneware with polychrome enamels under transparent glaze (Kyoto ware); wood with black lacquer lid, Japan
Freshwater Jar (Mizusashi) with Geometric Patterns
Ogata Ihachi (Kyoto Kenzan II)
first half 18th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.