Shears manufactured by a formerly enslaved blacksmith, Fenwick Hall Plantation

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A pair of iron shears (hedge clippers) manufactured by a formerly enslaved blacksmith from Fenwick Hall Plantation, South Carolina. The trimmer blades are crossed and attached with an adjustable screw near the blades. The top blade is thick with a straight edge and is rounded at the top near the tip. The bottom blade is smaller and hooked shaped. Painted in a small white rectangle at the center screw is hand painted black text that reads [R234]. The handles are elongated and taper towards the edges. They are connected with a slightly rounded bar of iron attached to each handle with screws.

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