{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1766589"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1766589/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW1947/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW1947/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NW1947","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NW1948","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1766589/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1766589","accessionNumber":"WE.1-2022","objectType":"Badge","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In 2021, the V&A Wedgwood Collection embarked on an Art Fund supported research project to explore the complex history of Wedgwood’s anti-slavery medallion in the context of contemporary anti-racist activism. \r\n\r\nFirst produced in 1787, the historic medallion took its design from the seal for the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, showing a kneeling Black man in chains asking, 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?'. As a forerunner to the protest badge, Wedgwood freely distributed these medallions to raise awareness of the cause for abolition in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. \r\n\r\nFollowing a week-long workshop led by Grace Barrett, founder of the anti-racism teacher training programme I AM ALLY, and Georgia Haseldine of the V&A Research Institute, students from the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College critically engaged with Josiah Wedgwood’s abolitionist activities and re-imagined a new medallion for the 21st century. \r\n\r\nProduced as jasper medallions by the Wedgwood factory, the final design by Amy Sproston shows a fist motif clutching an olive branch, a recognisable symbol of protest and peace, emerging out of the iconic Stoke-on-Trent bottle kilns. The text ‘I Am a Man and a Brother’ plays with the wording from the original 1787 medallion, making it an empowering statement rather than a question. Much like the widespread distribution of historic abolitionist imagery, the contemporary design also features on badges, prints and postcards to disseminate this important image of ally-ship.","physicalDescription":"Pin badge depicting a raised black fist clutching an olive branch on a green background with bottle kilns and smoke, text reads: I AM A MAN AND A BROTHER.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"},{"text":"illustration","id":"AAT54200"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Metal","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2024NW1947","2024NW1948"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WDG1","id":"THES264736"},"free":"","case":"CA19","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"badge","id":"AAT193994"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Stoke-on-Trent","id":"x29185"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2022","earliest":"2022-01-01","latest":"2022-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"32","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"4","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Designed by Amy Sproston, a student from the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, 2022.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Badge, 'I Am a Man and a Brother' made by World of Wedgwood, based on a design by Amy Sproston, Stoke-on-Trent, 2022","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"WDG1/CA19","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["WE.1-2022"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2022,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-06","recordCreationDate":"2023-10-02","availableToBook":false}}