PRISONER’S SHOES 18TH CENTURY 2 - ODDITIES

Prisoner's irons from the 18th century, heavy ankle restraints with key, entirely in wrought iron.

The first ring closed around one of the prisoners' two ankles, by passing the chain through the long links, the second was then padlocked. Oddities collection

A copy of the same type is on display at Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection

Good condition, the key works but no longer comes out of the lock.

PERIOD : 18th century
SIZE : 37cm
SIZE : 14.5"

Prison irons forged in the 18th century, chiseled from a raw and solid metal, represented the brutality inherent in the judicial system of the time. Designed with careful expertise in wrought iron, these shackles were notable for their deliberate simplicity, stripped of superfluous ornamentation to highlight their ruthless functionality. The thick links and imposing handcuffs were forged from raw metal, giving unwavering resistance to these instruments of deprivation. The rough texture of the raw metal evoked the harsh reality of life behind bars, emphasizing the harshness of the punishments inflicted. The craftsmen of the time paid particular attention to the robustness of the irons, aware that their primary purpose was to deprive prisoners of their freedom in an inflexible manner. Thus, these raw metal shackles from the 18th century bear witness to the implacable severity which characterized the prison system of this period.