Mar 26, 2015 - Sale 2377

Sale 2377 - Lot 33

Price Realized: $ 1,820
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,500 - $ 3,500
[WEDGEWOOD, JOSIAH]. Am I Not a Man and a Brother. Complex circular anti-slavery plaque, consisting of a 1-7/8 inch watercolor of the classic kneeling slave; at his feet, a tiny bunch of moss, his hands shackles with very fine gilt chain; over him, a narrow band carrying the well-known motto; this in turn in set under a piece of convex glass with double gilt borders reverse painted; this then is set in a circular piece of pink marble 3-3/4 inches in diameter; the latter with several age cracks. Np, circa 1800-1830's

Additional Details

One of the most intricately crafted anti-slavery pieces that we have seen. Probably unique, and made for sale at one of the anti-slavery "fairs" to raise money for the cause. There's hardly a piece of everyday material culture that was not made to carry an anti-slavery message: from tea services to doilies, purses and humidors; anything at all that one would see over and over again each day became a likely vehicle for the message. Later the kneeling man was accompanied by the image of a woman with the same message: "Am I not a Sister. . ."