{"product_id":"1830-william-wilberforce-match-safe","title":"1830 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. Original Abolitionist Era Anti-Slavery Wall Match Safe. Excellent.","description":"\u003cp\u003eA really attractive and evocative artifact from the abolitionist era under William Wilberforce. Prior to The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, many abolitionists and abolition supporters in both England and America found physical ways of connecting themselves to the cause. There were Staffordshire cups and tea spoons with anti-slavery iconography all over England. And in America, one could buy a pitcher or basin commemorating the life and death of Elijah P. Lovejoy. And in both there were prints and pamphlets galore. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo me, the household artifacts are the most interesting. These would have belonged to persons presumably of more than ordinary interest in the cause, persons who wanted to be reminded on a daily basis of the ongoing plight of their brothers and sisters so they could have conversations with others, give to appropriate causes, and pray. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present, probably created around 1830, would have been hung in an abolitionist's home, either near the fireplace or another area of the home where regular lighting was needed. Unused matches would placed in the small basin and then struck on the bottom of the basin before being discarded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example was clearly owned over a lengthy period of time. It has the kind of feature softening only possible with years of regular usage and handling. Mr. Wilberforce's features and the anti-slavery iconography, inspired by Wedgewood's classic image, are both dulled as shown. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maker is unmarked, but almost certainly crafted by the same firm who issued a very similar door knocker, which bore the same general design. I have had 2 or 3 of the door knockers over the last 30 years, but I do not recall ever having handled this use of the design. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Specs Fine Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51074023129124,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0093\/3910\/9435\/files\/07-17-2026SpecsFineBooks-21.jpg?v=1784386720","url":"https:\/\/specsfinebooks.com\/products\/1830-william-wilberforce-match-safe","provider":"Specs Fine Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}