Livery
Description
Initially believed to have belonged to Charles Carroll the Barrister in the 1770s, this ensemble was actually worn by an unidentified enslaved man, a detail revealed after a closer look at its structure and style. Enslaved men and servants placed in highly visible jobs wore liveries, a uniform that visually showcased and symbolized a family’s wealth. Not only did it announce a family’s financial standing, a livery’s antiquated style ensured no one mistook an enslaved person or servant for a freeman or freewoman.
Creator
Date
circa 1840