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A South Staffordshire enamel anti-slavery patch box, circa 1800 image 1
A South Staffordshire enamel anti-slavery patch box, circa 1800 image 2
Lot 124

A South Staffordshire enamel anti-slavery patch box, circa 1800

23 February 2022, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,805 inc. premium

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A South Staffordshire enamel anti-slavery patch box, circa 1800

Of oval form, the hinged lid printed with a kneeling black man, his chained hands clasped together, huts amongst trees and a slave ship in the distance, below the motto 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER', the base with a simple pattern of green husks and blue sprigs, 4.8cm wide

Footnotes

This powerful image of the kneeling slave and the accompanying motto was famously produced by Josiah Wedgwood, namely in the form of jasperware medallions. An example was sold by Bonhams on 29 September 2020, lot 123. To show and generate support for the plight of the slave the image was adapted to be used on a variety of small tokens, easily displayed or worn on the person. The leading abolitionist Thomas Clarkson noted "Thus fashion...which usually confines itself to worthless things, was seen for once in the honourable office of promoting the cause of justice, humanity and freedom." An anti-slavery patch box of different design from the Mort and Moira Lesser Collection was sold by Bonhams on 19 October 2011, lot 193.

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