?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 6,000 - $ 8,000
AN EXQUISITE REVERSE PAINTING ON GLASS (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) Africa-America. Reverse painting on glass, over an engraving depicting an African chief, standing in front of his hut; in his left hand, he holds a spear; in his right hand, held to his chest is a small motto, "Slave-Trade Abolish'd 1806." To the right, is a very stylized "Britannia," holding the American flag in her right hand; with her left hand she points to a double portrait of William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson. The engraving is 14x10 inches, framed with double glass to facilitate view of the reverse side, the original glass with bubbling consistent with age. London: Published by W. B. Walker, 20 August 1807
The engraving by W. B. Walker was issued to commemorate the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807. Walker specialized in reverse paintings on glass. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England has 12 examples, but not this particular image. A similar engraving, issued by A. Poncia in Amsterdam, circa 1780-1790, was included our sale 2034 in 2005 (lot 97). The earlier Dutch piece predates the abolition of the slave-trade, and therefore lacks several elements that were added by Walker.
