Wrought iron ankle shackle with beam attachment. One ankle piece is closed with two triangular loops of iron that interlock and for chaining to another enslaved person's shackle. The other ankle piece is also constructed so that it can be attached to the beam of a ship. Both ankle pieces are decorated with crescents. Between the two are three round iron loops and two two-holed spacers. Shackles were used to prevent escape of enslaved people, for example, while transporting them from place to place on foot or by ship.
Acquisition
Accession
593
Source or Donor
Robinson, Jessica Woods
Acquisition Method
Gift
Made/Created
Date made
circa 1780 - circa 1850
Notes
According to Eric Johnson, local blacksmith with expertise in historic iron works, the shackle was made before 1850 and may have been made in the late 18th century.
