Stock No. 2313	George IV anti-slavery two-sided seal
	George IV anti-slavery two-sided seal with turnover Tassie intaglios on his secret vitreous paste. One side is white, the other is black. The frame and mount of the two seals is gilt on base metal and is of a typically Regency design. At the top of the mount is a wide, attractively decorated ring, enabling the seal to be worn as a pendant or a fob. The impression on the white side depicts a male negro slave, kneeling on one knee, with manacled hands raised in supplication. The inscription above reads: - AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER. The black side bears the rare variant of a female negro slave, kneeling on one knee, with manacled hands raised in supplication. The inscription above reads: - AM I NOT A WOMAN AND A SISTER.
	Maker :- Tassie

Condition :-Excellent condition. One slight chip on the side of the black stone and one on the side of the white. Otherwise, the condition of both stones is perfect and the impression of both seals is very crisp
Circa :- 1825
Size :- 1.5 inches (3.8cm) high x 1.2 inches (3.0 cm) wide
There is much history to this seal. The Society for the Suppression of the Slave Trade was founded in England in 1787. Josiah Wedgwood, Queen's potter and head of the well-known porcelain firm, played a very active part in the Society's affairs, became a member of the Committee, and was instrumental in turning popular feeling in favour of the movement. Wedgwood took the seal of the committee for his model and produced a cameo modelled by William Hackwood depicting a male negro slave such as the impression on the white side of the above seal. Many hundreds of cameos were produced and sold and circulated in the cause against slavery. Some had them inlaid in gold on the lid of their snuff-boxes, while ladies had these cameos fitted in bracelets or as ornaments and hairpins. At length the taste for wearing these cameos became general and a fashion. Early in February, 1788, Wedgwood sent some of these cameos to Benjamin Franklin. From about 1769, James Tassie supplied casts to Wedgwood for reproduction in Wedgwood paste. Most of the cameos and intaglios named in Wedgwood's 1773 catalogue were casts from moulds supplied by Tassie. Tassie's intaglio pastes suitable for seals and rings were much sold by the London jewellers as well as by himself. After his death in 1799, Tassie's business was carried on by his nephew, William.

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