Antislavery Medallion 1782 - 1792

This striking medallion was crafted by Josiah Wedgwood, a poignant cry against the inhumanity of slavery. Kneeling in chains, the figure embodies supplication, his posture echoing that of ancient devotional images. Consider the act of kneeling itself. It appears in diverse spiritual traditions, from the Christian adoration of the Madonna to the Buddhist prostrations before sacred images. Here, however, it is inverted. The chains, symbols of bondage and oppression, clash with the act of reverence, creating a tension that forces a deeper consideration of humanity denied. The inscription, "Am I Not a Man and a Brother?" compels us to confront the brutal reality of slavery. It is a question that resonates across time, recalling the cries for justice in antiquity and echoing in contemporary struggles for human rights. Note the emotional power of this image, a potent reminder of the cyclical recurrence of oppression.