On View
Segregation Gallery
Exhibition
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968
Created by
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1935
Medium
paint on wood and metal
Dimensions
13 5/8 x 3 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. (34.6 x 7.9 x 7 cm)
Description
A wooden jig doll in the form of a caricatured porter. The doll's face is painted black, with white eyes and a wide, white mouth. 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. The dolls face, hands, and lower legs are painted black. His hat, torso, arms, upper legs, and feet are painted white. He has unevenly shaped eyes. The doll's torso is painted as if he is wearing a white double-breasted jacket and white bowtie. The jacket has six (6) black buttons painted on, in two (2) rows of three (3). There is a round black button painted on each wrist and two (2) black buttons painted on the outside of each upper leg. There is a round hole in the center of the doll's back.
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
2007.7.267
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56b3ce55b-3d38-4277-a184-902b0aa785dc

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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