Medallion — anti-slavery medallion, ca. 1790
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1790
Medallion in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number WE.7825-2014), dated ca. 1790. The museum's brief description reads: Anti-slavery medallion, white terracotta and black basalt, unknown maker, ca.
1790. Museum description: Oval medallion with cream-coloured background, applied relief in black of a kneeling man in chains, with the words 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER' over his head, surrounded by a black frame The museum records it as terracotta with applied relief, measuring Height 110 mm; Width 85 mm; Depth 14 mm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This anti-slavery medallion design was modelled after the seal of the Society for Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1787 by William Hackwood, who worked as a modeller for Wedgwood from 1762 to 1832. The cameo depicts a kneeling enslaved Black man in chains and the outer edge is moulded with the words 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?'. Wedgwood’s anti-slavery medallions became popular protest symbols and were distributed to all closely concerned with the abolitionist movement. Abolitionists customised them into fashionable, wearable accessories such as buckles and hairpins. Josiah Wedgwood I (1730-95) was a member of the Society for Abolition of the Slave Trade from 1787 until his death in 1795. Josiah promoted meetings, publications and petitions to support the abolition of slavery. His most important contribution to the movement was the production of the anti-slavery medallions which brought widespread attention to the cause. In 1788 Josiah sent a quantity of the cameos to Benjamin Franklin, President of the Pennsylvanian Society for the Abolition of Slavery. By 1791 thousands of medallions had been distributed, contributing to turning popular feeling in favour of the movement. Following the adaptation of the medallion to adorn snuff boxes, hat pins and brooches, Thomas Clarkson, a fellow member of the Society for Abolition, remarked: ‘Fashion, which usually confines itself to worthless things was seen for once in the honourable office of promoting the cause of justice,…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- terracotta
- Dimensions
- Height 110 mm; Width 85 mm; Depth 14 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- terracotta with applied relief
Identification
- Museum object name
- Medallion
- Museum object number
- WE.7825-2014
- Museum system number
- O1770436
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.