Lot 100 A Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion, circa 1790
落槌价
****
成交价
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| 拍卖公司 | 邦瀚斯 |
|---|---|
| 拍卖时间 | 2026年07月01日 |
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拍品信息
拍品名称
A Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion, circa 1790
起拍价
GBP 2,000
估值区间
未知
尺寸
未知
品相
未知
更多信息
Of oval shape composed of black and white jasperware, an enslaved man depicted in profile, kneeling on one knee, his hands together, situated beneath the inscription 'AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?', 3.1cm high
Footnotes
Provenance
Anon. sale, Bonhams, 6 June 2007, lot 175 (part)
Literature
White, Mary, People at the Whites' House, Vol.5, 2024, p.240
Josiah Wedgwood was commissioned to make a seal for the Society for the Effecting the Abolition of the African Slave Trade shortly after its founding in May 1787. The design was well-received and a second suggestion was made to distribute them beyond the Society as promotion for the cause. As medallions they could be set into pins, brooches, onto boxes and other accessories which could easily be kept on one's person. The image and inscription were further adopted by other makers, see for example the printed patch box sold by Bonhams on 23 February 2022, lot 124. Wedgwood personally sent 'a packet' of cameos to Benjamin Franklin in 1788, writing '...for the use of Your Excellency and friends, a few Cameos on a subject which I am happy to acquaint you is daily more and more taking possession of men's minds on this side the Atlantic as well as with you...', see Iris Moon, , 2023, p.130. Other examples were sold by Bonhams on 29 September 2020, lot 123, 11 June 2025, lot 169 and 19 November 2025, lot 118.
Footnotes
Provenance
Anon. sale, Bonhams, 6 June 2007, lot 175 (part)
Literature
White, Mary, People at the Whites' House, Vol.5, 2024, p.240
Josiah Wedgwood was commissioned to make a seal for the Society for the Effecting the Abolition of the African Slave Trade shortly after its founding in May 1787. The design was well-received and a second suggestion was made to distribute them beyond the Society as promotion for the cause. As medallions they could be set into pins, brooches, onto boxes and other accessories which could easily be kept on one's person. The image and inscription were further adopted by other makers, see for example the printed patch box sold by Bonhams on 23 February 2022, lot 124. Wedgwood personally sent 'a packet' of cameos to Benjamin Franklin in 1788, writing '...for the use of Your Excellency and friends, a few Cameos on a subject which I am happy to acquaint you is daily more and more taking possession of men's minds on this side the Atlantic as well as with you...', see Iris Moon, , 2023, p.130. Other examples were sold by Bonhams on 29 September 2020, lot 123, 11 June 2025, lot 169 and 19 November 2025, lot 118.
