Charleston slave badge from 1815 for Servant No. 689
date: label: Date
content: 1815
name: label: Created by
content: John Joseph Lafar, American, 1784 - 1849
notes: label: Description
content: A flat diamond-shaped badge with clipped corners and a hole at the top for suspension. “LAFAR” hallmark punched on the back. The elements on the front are as follows (top to bottom): "*CHARLESTON*" in a lunate bar punch; "No" in a square punch followed by an incuse "689" in deep individual punches; "SERVANT" in a rectangular punch; and "1815" bar punched at somewhat of an angle. The condition on this badge is extremely fine with well-defined elements, smooth surfaces, and an even medium brown patina. There is just a bit of verdigris at the bottom.
place: label: Place made
content: Charleston, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: Skilled labor
label: Topic
content: Slave hire system
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1815-1861
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Slavery and Freedom Objects
label: Exhibition
content: Slavery and Freedom
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2010.27.3
objectType: label: Type
content: slave hire badges
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 2 7/16 x 2 1/2 in. (6.2 x 6.3 cm)