Wedgwood produced these medallions to help the anti-slavery efforts which were growing in momentum at the end of the 18th century. They show a figure of a chained enslaved African, with the inscription 'Am I not a man and a brother?' The medallions were given away to supporters of the anti-slavery cause. Ladies would wear the medallions set into jewellery. Men could have them mounted on snuff boxes.
Wedgwood sent 400 of the medallions to Benjamin Franklin in America. Franklin responded to Wedgwood saying that he thought that they would have 'an effect equal to that of the best written Pamphlet in procuring Favour to these oppressed People.'
Lever purchased the medallion at a sale, as part of a larger group of items, in 1915.

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Wedgwood produced these medallions to help the anti-slavery efforts which were growing in momentum at the end of the 18th century. They show a figure of a chained enslaved African, with the inscription 'Am I not a man and a brother?' The medallions were given away to supporters of the anti-slavery cause. Ladies would wear the medallions set into jewellery. Men could have them mounted on snuff boxes. Wedgwood sent 400 of the medallions to Benjamin Franklin in America. Franklin responded to Wedgwood saying that he thought that they would have 'an effect equal to that of the best written Pamphlet in procuring Favour to these oppressed People.' Lever purchased the medallion at a sale, as part of a larger group of items, in 1915.

Medallion

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