Restraints Collection

A convict in travelling irons
5307381 A convict in travelling irons.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a convict in travelling irons on his way to a Siberian prison. Dated 19th century. 01/01/1850); Universal History Archive/UIG

Young ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) playing, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. Non-ex

Figure of a prisoner (engraving)
728818 Figure of a prisoner (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Figure of a prisoner, sitting in a prison cell)

Street entertainer: weirdly garbed Houdini of the pit queue (b / w photo)
3637419 Street entertainer: weirdly garbed Houdini of the pit queue (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Street entertainer)

Trying on the pinioning jacket (engraving)
614662 Trying on the pinioning jacket (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The press room: trying on the pinioning jacket)

UK Prisoner in a Straitjacket Date: 1920s

Fruit Venders Cart, Havana, Cuba Postcard. 1904, Fruit Venders Cart, Havana, Cuba Postcard

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From the playful young ground squirrels of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, to the engraved figures of prisoners and street performers in strange attire, the concept has been a part of human history and nature for centuries. Whether it's the intricate pinioning jackets of old or the straightjackets used in prisons, the idea of confinement has been depicted in various forms of art and literature. Even in the world of automobiles, the Audi TT Quattro Roadster is often metaphorically referred to as being "restrained" by its sleek design and powerful engine. Yet, the fruit vendors' carts of Havana, Cuba, and the Uncle Tom Carreras Cigarette Card remind us that even in the most mundane of situations, the concept of restraint can still be found. The art of escaping these metaphorical and literal confines, as demonstrated by the legendary Houdini, continues to fascinate and inspire us.