- On View
- Segregation Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Manufactured by
- Rhody Brush Company, American
- Date
- ca. 1935
- Medium
- wood , bristle and cloth
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 7 1/16 × 2 3/4 × 3 1/4 in. (18 × 7 × 8.3 cm)
- Description
- A Rhody Brush Company "Mammy" clothes brush with red blouse and a skirt dotted with red polka dots. The long-bristled palm brush has a handle in the doll-like form of a "Mammy." The handle is painted wood, carved to resemble the head and torso of a woman and the bristle brush forms her skirt. The figure's head is painted black with white eyes, a white nose, and a wide red mouth. Her hat is painted red. The figure is armless but has a painted on red blouse with five (5) circular white buttons and a white scalloped collar. Tied around the neck of the figure is a yellow bow. Natural bristles are attached through numerous holes in the bottom of the body. The bristle skirt is dotted with red polka dots.
- 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.
- Classification
- Racist and Stereotypical Objects
- Type
- clothes brushes
- Topic
- 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
- 2007.7.53
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




