Unkown Slave Collar with Spikes

My first impression is that the collar seems too new and well-forged to be a slave collar. I would suggest that it is far more likely an early 20th Century prison restraint, if a true restraint of any kind at all. Another thought is that six inches is very small, so if it is a true restraint, it almost certainly would had to have been made for a very small adult or child, unless the intent was to cause as much damage as possible. Slave collars were smooth-faced or completely round, and were often padded with linen to keep them from chaffing. You have to remember, as horrific a reality as it is, slaves were a business commodity, especially to the kind of slave owner who would use any type of restraint collar at all.

To give you an example, the round slave collars were made with these three long bells attached that would stand way up above the slave's head. This was not only to cause humiliation, but they acted as a way to keep contact with any runaway chattel, just like a cowbell allowed the dairy farmer keep track of his cattle. The smartest slaves- and those were usually the ones who ran- would simply pack the bells with hay, straw, and mud to rend them silent. Laughably, showing their own stupidity, many owners did not give the runners enough credit to come up with such a simple, yet bright idea.

Bells and linen-wrapped smooth collars are a far cry from the teeth we see on your collar, though. The very last thing any owner would've wanted was to inflict that kind of significant damage to a merchandise that, realistically, they would very likely need to sell someday. The collar you have is made to do nothing if not cause very severe damage. For just that reason, alone, if it is not made for some other reason entirely (like home S&M scenes), I believe it far more likely a prison restraint.

In all honesty, my very first thought upon seeing your collar was, "Wow, now that must have been one very scary animal if its owner felt he had to resort to that sort of thing to keep it under control." I actually wouldn't be surprised to discover that it is, indeed, some kind of early animal collar. In the early 20th Century, people could be relentlessly cruel to their four-legged creatures.

Anyway...

To be absolutely sure, or as sure as possible, I sent your images to a restraint and handcuff specialist I know. As soon as he responds, I'll let you know what he, the professional, actually has to say.

The specialist I emailed was as disturbed by the collar as I was, and agrees that it is definitely not a slave iron of any kind. He couldn't state any stronger that he does not believe it to be a prisoner restraint, either (as a restraint specialist, he seemed kind of insulted even at my suggestion). He went on to say that he believes it is most likely a prop from an early 20th C. Renaissance Fair, or some similar sort of role-playing activity (I don't think he wanted to say anything about that whole "S & M" thing, out of common politeness), but does not think it has much significant age because of the manner in which the iron has been handled, worked, and cut (as he said it, "... it looks very modern"). He also mentioned a lack on the iron of any significant age patina, plus pointed out a discolored area that seems to have held some sort of glued label of some sort, and not all that long ago. As for value, he was not hopeful on that for you, either, I am afraid.

If you are looking to sell, I can probably put you in touch with a fellow from a Renaissance Fair, but those guys are not known to really spend a good deal money. Do you have any idea of just how much you need or would like to get from it?