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Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine
Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine

Colonial Era BLACK OYSTER WATERMAN African-American Statue Ceramic Art Figurine

$ 5280

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Culture: African
  • Condition: REMARKABLE RARE ART PIECE depicting Colonial-era young black waterman harvesting oysters in excellent condition. Self-possessed, quiet and sweet expression on the face of a young male in this small statue. Note, personal courier delivery may be possible, please see notes.
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted

    Description

    This is a rare,
    rare
    find and an exceptional delight:
    it's so unusual to find accurate period representations of people of color in the American colonial period
    .
    This period sculpture of a young man of color
    has no trace of the rampant racial stereotypes and unkindness
    exhibited by nearly every vintage piece that purported to 'represent' American blacks.
    A true art piece which is respectful of the subject; a wonderful find.
    DESCRIPTION OF SUBJECT:
    This small statue is a quietly elegant 8" tall ceramic art sculpture of an African-American boy/young teenager, not quite a child and not quite a man, wearing colonial-era apparel: a flowing linen shirt tucked into his mustard-colored pants, a simple open jacket, a scarf tied around his neck and a broad-brimmed hat.
    His simple clothing is depicted to be of good quality with no signs of wear or patching.
    He gazes at the viewer with a pleasant, self-confident expression.
    He also wears a pair of thigh-high wading boots.  Behind him is a shoreline piling with ropes.
    He appears to be ready to dig oysters or clams: he carries a net in which to put shellfish, and an oar board to dig with.
    This statue of this young man is historically important, because it represents the significant benefits that oystering offered to both free and enslaved blacks of the period:
    "Oyster houses" owned and run by black Americans were attended by men and women, enslaved and free, black and white, middle-class and wealthy.  They provided an invaluable means of earning income for free blacks and a side income for enslaved people among the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay and further north.
    These entrepreneurs, whether harvesting the shellfish or providing them in the oyster bars, became a significant and greatly under-celebrated force in the development and prosperity of the mid-Atlantic waterfront communities.
    (For a fascinating story of their impact, please google "The Venerable Thomas Downing, Black Oyster King of New York", a man so highly respected that the New York Chamber of Commerce closed in observation of his funeral in 1866.)
    An unusual, rare gift for those who celebrate the importance and role of African American people in building American society.  Thank you for your interest.
    ******
    NOTE: We also have an antique stoneware crock of the same era, the type which would be used to package oysters for storage and shipment. If you are interested in a display featuring this young waterman
    and
    the oyster crock, please message me and we will list it for you.
    ORIGIN:
    Artist/maker unknown.  The vent hole in the base of the figurine is quite small, which usually means an early manufacture date for this type of ceramic sculpture.
    Possibly late Staffordshire, or possibly made in the US in circa late 1700s-mid 1800s, but this is only an estimate. (Expert advice is much appreciated; I prefer my descriptions to be accurate.)
    Marked "25" (1825?) and what appears to be either "10" or "40".
    Smoke-free home, questions promptly answered, your purchase carefully packaged and we ship fast...thank you so much for your interest.
    POSSIBLE PERSONAL COURIER SERVICE at no additional cost
    :
    We like day trips!  Depending on your area, we may be able to deliver or do meet-up FREE within a three-hour radius of Baltimore (usually anywhere south of NYC to north of Richmond.)
    Courier service must be arranged via eBay email and agreed upon before purchase, otherwise regular shipping will be used.
    To contact us regarding this, look for "SELLER INFORMATION" on right of item page. Click "contact seller" link under that.  Send me an email letting me know your area--and I'll let you know promptly if we can help.