Black History
18th Century "Middle Passage" Iron Slave Leg Shackles
c. 1750 to 1800 18th Century, Hand-Wrought Iron Slave Leg Shackles, Atlantic "Middle Passage" Type, Choice Very Fine.
Rare original "Middle Passage" Iron Slave Leg Shackles, measures about 12.5" in length with minor surface pitting and oxidation from age. Shackles such as these are a grim reminder of the practices of Slave trading that occurred during the Trans-Atlantic "Middle Passage" route circa 1750-1800. A captive African Slave's feet would have been bound in each ankle brace then hammering in a ring on the end to secure the restraints in place. Shackles were also used on hands, though many Slaves had their hands bound in cloth and rope.
The "Middle Passage" was the stage of the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic Slave trade. Ships departed Europe for African markets with manufactured goods, which were traded for purchased or kidnapped Africans, who were transported across the Atlantic as Slaves; the Slaves were then sold or traded for raw materials, which would be transported back to Europe to complete the voyage. Voyages on the Middle Passage were a large financial undertaking, and they were generally organized by companies or groups of investors rather than individuals. Recently, a similar example sold at auction for $4,000. This is a good example and a truly historical artifact from the 18th Century Slave trade, excellent for display.