On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Created by
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1920
Medium
cast iron
Dimensions
6 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 6 in. (15.9 x 13.3 x 15.2 cm)
Description
A mechanical coin bank in the form of a bust and arm of a caricatured boy. The boy has yellow eyes and red lips, white teeth and a wide open mouth. He is wearing a red jacket with white trim and a blue bow tie. His jacket has three (3) chevrons on the right sleeve and a yellow cuff. Only the front of the jacket is painted. A lever is located on the back of the boy's proper left arm. The palm of his right hand is a flat semicircle, to fit a coin. When the lever is pressed, the right arm raises, his tongue depresses, his eyes close, and his ears rotate backwards. There is a round hole located in the bottom of the bank. White sticker with writing in blue ink on the bottom that reads [$60].
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
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Type
mechanical banks
Topic
Caricature and cartoons
Domestic life
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
2007.7.219
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56418ee7f-c3e3-4074-9fd5-b280bb5bb425

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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