“Out of sight”, 2020
19th-century slave iron, 19th-century slave iron with missing rattle
13,5 (h) x 28 (w) x 15 (d) cm

Irons with rattles built into their handles, called slave irons, were designed to be used by the enslaved working inside the plantation house to iron the laundry of the masters. While out of sight, the rattle audibly signaled to the master that the slave was working continuously. Removing the rattle was a refusal of this oversight.

Rental