Medallion
ca. 1787 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
These medallions were made for distribution to advocates for the abolition of slavery. Both men and women used or wore them to publicise the campaign and signal their support for the abolitionist cause.
Wedgwood is popularly credited as the originator of the motto on the medallion: 'Am I not a man and a brother?'. He had extensive trading links with Liverpool, the foremost slave port of the day. However, there is evidence to suggest that the phrase was first employed in 1778 by Rev Dr Peter Peckard, Chancellor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, who used it as the title of an abolitionist pamphlet supplied to the National Legislator.
Trading
The medallions were not sold commercially, and were never listed in the Wedgwood catalogues. Instead, Wedgwood probably bore the cost of their production and distribution. Others of similar size sold at 3 guineas each (œ3 3s), which gives an indication of the considerable sums involved. They were probably distributed through the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. Certainly, Wedgwood is known to have sent consignments to both the American statesman Benjamin Franklin, who was then President of the Philadelphia Society for the Abolition of Slavery, and Thomas Clarkson, a leading abolitionist and author of A Summary View of the Slave Trade.
These medallions were made for distribution to advocates for the abolition of slavery. Both men and women used or wore them to publicise the campaign and signal their support for the abolitionist cause.
Wedgwood is popularly credited as the originator of the motto on the medallion: 'Am I not a man and a brother?'. He had extensive trading links with Liverpool, the foremost slave port of the day. However, there is evidence to suggest that the phrase was first employed in 1778 by Rev Dr Peter Peckard, Chancellor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, who used it as the title of an abolitionist pamphlet supplied to the National Legislator.
Trading
The medallions were not sold commercially, and were never listed in the Wedgwood catalogues. Instead, Wedgwood probably bore the cost of their production and distribution. Others of similar size sold at 3 guineas each (œ3 3s), which gives an indication of the considerable sums involved. They were probably distributed through the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. Certainly, Wedgwood is known to have sent consignments to both the American statesman Benjamin Franklin, who was then President of the Philadelphia Society for the Abolition of Slavery, and Thomas Clarkson, a leading abolitionist and author of A Summary View of the Slave Trade.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | White Jasper with a black relief and mounted in gilt-metal |
| Brief description | Oval medallion of white jasper with a black relief of a chained Black enslaved man in a half-kneeling posture facing right, modelled by William Hackwood, made by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd., Etruria, ca. 1787. |
| Physical description | Oval medallion of white jasper with a black relief of a chained black male slave in a half-kneeling posture facing right. Set in a gilt metal hoop. Inscribed at the edge with 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?'. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?' (Inscribed at the edge) |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by Lady Charlotte Schreiber |
| Object history | Made for the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. Known as the Emancipation Badge. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type These medallions were made for distribution to advocates for the abolition of slavery. Both men and women used or wore them to publicise the campaign and signal their support for the abolitionist cause. Wedgwood is popularly credited as the originator of the motto on the medallion: 'Am I not a man and a brother?'. He had extensive trading links with Liverpool, the foremost slave port of the day. However, there is evidence to suggest that the phrase was first employed in 1778 by Rev Dr Peter Peckard, Chancellor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, who used it as the title of an abolitionist pamphlet supplied to the National Legislator. Trading The medallions were not sold commercially, and were never listed in the Wedgwood catalogues. Instead, Wedgwood probably bore the cost of their production and distribution. Others of similar size sold at 3 guineas each (œ3 3s), which gives an indication of the considerable sums involved. They were probably distributed through the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. Certainly, Wedgwood is known to have sent consignments to both the American statesman Benjamin Franklin, who was then President of the Philadelphia Society for the Abolition of Slavery, and Thomas Clarkson, a leading abolitionist and author of A Summary View of the Slave Trade. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Other number | Sch. II 544 - Schreiber number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 414:1304-1885 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
