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Description: | Thomas Allgood from Pontypool in Wales is credited with developing oil varnishes for tin objects to produce Japanned ware during the 1730's. This technique quickly spread to the West Midlands. Most interestingly, this tobacco box is lettered with `Freedom to the Slaves'. The Allgood factory probably made this to reflect the growing public desire to end slavery in Britain during the 18th century. In 1787 the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was established to encourage parliament and the public to end slavery. The Society published leaflets and distributed artefacts to bring attention to their campaign to end slavery. In 1807 the trading of slaves was outlawed, but not slavery itself. By c.1817, the Allgood factory had closed down and seven decades later in 1888, all slavery was finally outlawed throughout the British Empire.
In 1787, Josiah Wedgewood produced hundreds of medallions with the powerful image 'Am I Not A Man And A Brother?' They were distributed throughout England and overseas to America. Wedgewood was not the only manufacturer of items with abolitionist messages. British manufacturers produced many goods designed to arouse sympathy for slaves. One strategy was to incorporate the abolitionist message into the familiar rhyming couplet, the popular verse onto the porcelain mug: Health to the Sick Honour to the Brave Success attend true Love And Freedom to the Slave The abolitionist cause was taken up around the whole country. A significant range of ordinary people and some eminent figures in Wales also participated in the movement. The japanned tobacco box with the message 'Freedom to the Slaves' was made by Welsh japanned manufacturer Thomas Allgood in Pontypool. "May Slavery and Oppression Cease Throughout the World" This is part of the Anti-Slavery Trail. Find out more information at the Reception Desk."
Oval tobacco box, painted with two wine glasses and two crossed church warden pipes, `Freedom to the Slaves'. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/ | Publisher: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Rights holder: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Subjects: | Japanned ware Decorative arts Religion Georgian period | Temporal: | 1750 - 1799
Georgian (1714-1837) | Source: | Black Country History | Identifier: | http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/colle... | Go to resource |
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