Moorish Dancer 3, The Astute Allach white porcelain figurine of a medieval costumed dancer
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 8.625 inches (21.908 cm) | Width: 4.625 inches (11.748 cm) | Depth: 4.750 inches (12.065 cm)
Creator(s)
- Porzellan-Manufaktur Allach-München (Manufacturer)
- Davis O. Morris (Subject)
Biographical History
Davis O. Morris attended the Armed Forces Staff College and War College. He was a first lieutenant in the United States Army in Munich where he was stationed for three and a half years, from January 1950 to July 1953. He served under battalion commander Col. James C. Bradford. He and his wife, Adelia, lived at 39 Ravenna Strasse, and later at 7 Wolkenstein Strasse. The couple had a boy and girl while living in Munich and had two more girls after returning to the United States. Morris continued n the Army after the war. He was awarded four bronze stars and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. In 1965, he returned to Germany and was stationed in Nuremburg and Stutttgart. Morris achieved the rank of Brigadier General.
Archival History
The porcelain figurine was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2006 by Bobbi J. Morris, the daughter of Adelia W. and Davis O. Morris.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Bobbi J. Morris
Scope and Content
Allach porcelain jester figurine acquired by Adelia W. and Davis O. Morris when they lived in Munich, Germany, as part of the US Army occupation force from 1950-1953. One evening, a man came to their door with the figurine, offering it in trade. He gave it to the Morris's in exchange for a bag of coffee. This is model three of five figures in the Jester series, known as Zaddelrock or Moriskentanzer III, the Astute, produced in 1941. Allach Porcelain and the artist Richard Förster were commissioned by the city of Munich in 1937 to reproduce scaled-down figures of a 1480 Gothic sculpture created by Erasmus Grasser for the Dance House in Munich. The Moriskens were never for public sale, but were made exclusively for the city of Munich as gifts for visiting dignitaries. The city paid Allach 20 Reich Marks for each completed Morisken. Five of the ten figures were put into production. The Allach Porcelain Factory was taken over by the SS in 1936 and was under the direct control of Heinrich Himmler. The first factory was at Allach, a subcamp of Dachau concentration camp. A second production site was set up at Dachau to specialize in figurines. The factories were sub-camps of Dachau concentration camp, with camp inmates supplying the forced labor.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Glazed white porcelain male figurine in a dancelike pose with the body twisted to the left, with both arms extended outward. The open mouthed face has a goatee, mustache, and pointy nose. The tasseled, pointed hat has a wide brim, flipped up to show the face. A scarf emerges from under the brim, wraps under the chin, and ties behind the neck. The v-neck tunic has a pointed hemline, with 4 tassels at the waist. The sleeves are elbow length and edged with fringe and a small ball and a v-neck undershirt has ¾ sleeves. The legs are crossed in a wide stance with bent knees. The tights have a back seam,with 4 jingle bells around the left calf. Crakow shoes, a slouched boot, are on the feet. It rests on a stone-like porcelain base.
Corporate Bodies
- Porzellan-Manufaktur Allach-München
Subjects
- Germany (Territory under Allied occupation, 1945-1955 : U.S. Zone). Office of Military Government.
- Soldiers--United States--Biography.
- World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Germany.
Genre
- Decorative Arts
- Object