ANTI-SLAVERY INTEREST. A WILLIAM IV SCRIMSHAW HORN BEAKER

ANTI-SLAVERY INTEREST. A WILLIAM IV SCRIMSHAW HORN BEAKER

C.1830-40

the rim inscribed 'NEGRO APPRENTICSHIP (sic). IS SLAVERY IN ALL BUT NAME.' above a kneeling woman surrounded by the slogan 'AM I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER', above the initials 'A.S.S' and 'LIVERPOOL', the reverse with the initials 'J.C.' inside a laurel wreath

11.5cm high, 6.9cm diameter

Catalogue Note

James Cropper (1773-1840) was a prominent Liverpool abolitionist and a member of the Liverpool branch of the Anti-Slavery Society that was in existence between 1823 and 1838.

Although the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833, legally banning the trade in slaves, under pressure from slave owners, a six year 'apprenticeship' was introduced. In theory, this meant they were being 'trained' to be free men and women but in reality many simply continued to work for their owners in slavery conditions. Through the influence of James Cropper and his son-in-law Jospeh Sturge, the practise of apprenticeships was eventually banned in 1838.