enslaved

Tiny, black dots speckle the surface of the sepia-toned portrait. The man in the picture sports a collared jacket over a work apron, his countenance framed by thin-rimmed spectacles, a beard, and tufts of hair that just about blend into the background.

Volunteer researchers have identified at least 27 people who were enslaved in Jamaica Plain as farmers or domestics during the 1700s.

Through July 9, “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston examines the work of enslaved ceramicists creating both utilitarian and artistic objects in the American South.