On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Created by
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1935
Medium
wood , paint and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (2007.7.204a-d): 14 1/8 × 9 7/8 × 3 13/16 in. (35.9 × 25.1 × 9.7 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.204a): 12 1/4 × 3 × 2 in. (31.1 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.204a & d): 12 7/8 × 3 × 2 in. (32.7 × 7.6 × 5.1 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.204b): 9 1/2 × 1/4 × 1/4 in. (24.1 × 0.6 × 0.6 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.204c): 1 7/8 × 9 7/8 × 3 13/16 in. (4.8 × 25.1 × 9.7 cm)
H x W x D (2007.7.204d): 3/4 × 1 1/16 × 1 1/16 in. (1.9 × 2.7 × 2.7 cm)
Description
A wooden jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter. The doll has jointed limbs and "dances" when a levered paddle on the base is manually activated. The doll consists of four (4) pieces: doll, dowel, base, and hat.
2007.7.204a:
A wooden jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter. His face is painted black, with white eyes and a wide, white mouth. A cylindrical wooden hat (2007.7.204d) sits atop the PR side of his head. The hat fits on top of a small dowel and can be removed. The doll has been painted wearing porter’s uniform: a red jacket over a white shirt and red tie. A red and white boutonniere has been painted over his proper left breast. The doll's arms are jointed at the shoulder and his legs are jointed at the hip and knees. His legs and feet are unpainted wood. A dowel has been inserted into a round hole in the bottom of the torso, attaching the legs.
2007.7.204b:
A wooden dowel. Fits into a hole in the base and stands up vertically. The top fits into the doll, allowing the doll to stand above the wooden paddle (2007.7.204c).
2007.7.204c:
A rectangular wooden base for the doll, with levered paddle. The base is painted red with a yellow semi-circle design. A rectangular wood block is attached to the base and acts as a fulcrum for the paddle. The paddle has a round face, painted brown and white. It has a round hole in the center that is aligned over a round hole in the base, into which a wooden dowel (2007.7.204b) is inserted. The paddle acts as a base for the figure, which "dances" when the lever is pressed up and down.
2007.7.204d:
A cylindrical hat for doll. The hat is brown wood, with a red band painted around the bottom. There is a round hole in the bottom, which allows the hat to be inserted onto a dowel on the doll's head.
Statement
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Collection title
Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Classification
Toys and Games
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
dolls
Topic
Caricature and cartoons
Stereotypes
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Object number
2007.7.204a-d
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5379f060b-21d4-4a8c-b557-830efb629abe

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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