On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Created by
Unidentified
Date
19th century
Medium
wood and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 22 1/2 × 12 1/4 × 2 1/4 in. (57.2 × 31.1 × 5.7 cm)
Description
Handmade wooden washboard with metal scrubbing panel. The washboard is constructed with a main rectangular panel of carved wood with two turned legs on the bottom edge. The top section of this main panel is thinner than the middle section and the legs. The middle section of the main panel has nineteen (19) rows of metal bands pounded into it, though the bands do not puncture the back of the board. The bands are alternately spaced so that the center portion of each band is by the empty section between the bands of the rows above and below. The main panel has two thin side frames of wood nailed to it and a wider piece of wood nailed to the top side that serves as a handle.
Place collected
Smoaks, Colleton County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Tools and Equipment
Type
maintenance and cleaning equipment
Topic
American South
Domestic life
Labor
Slavery
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2008.10.11
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55530427f-9483-461a-805f-01668e3a9756

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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