- On View
- Slavery and Freedom Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Slavery and Freedom
- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Date
- 1700-1850
- Medium
- iron
- Dimensions
- H x W: 2 1/4 × 34 1/2 × 4 3/4 in. (5.7 × 87.6 × 12.1 cm)
- Caption
- Ankle restraints held enslaved men together two-by-two as they marched to the coast. Women and children were restrained by their hands and necks.
- Description
- These ankle shackles consist of a two-piece cuff-like section at one end, and another cuff-like piece and locking device at the other; connected by three very heavy and elaborately incised links; all portions of this pair of shackles bear repeated geometric designs that are believed to be West African in origin.
- Place made
- West Africa, Africa
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Tools and Equipment
- Type
- shackles
- Topic
- Africa
- Commerce
- Slavery
- Trans Atlantic slave trade
- Violence
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2014.63.3
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




