I'm a Trading man Terracotta figurine of a Jewish ribbon peddler with a basket of colorful cloth
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 6.250 inches (15.875 cm) | Width: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Depth: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm)
Creator(s)
- Peter Ehrenthal (Compiler)
- Anton Sohn (Artisan)
Biographical History
The Katz Ehrenthal Collection is a collection of more than 900 objects depicting Jews and antisemitic and anti-Jewish propaganda from the medieval to the modern era, in Europe, Russia, and the United States. The collection was amassed by Peter Ehrenthal, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, to document the pervasive history of anti-Jewish hatred in Western art, politics and popular culture. It includes crude folk art as well as pieces created by Europe's finest craftsmen, prints and periodical illustrations, posters, paintings, decorative art, and toys and everyday household items decorated with depictions of stereotypical Jewish figures.
Archival History
The figurine was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016 by the Katz Family.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Katz Family
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Colorful terracotta figurine modelled by Anton Sohn in in early 19th century Germany. It is a satirical depiction of an unpleasant looking and unkempt Jewish peddler selling ribbons. Sohn (1769-1841), trained as a church painter, established a workshop in Zizenhausen, Germany, that was celebrated for its exceptionally detailed and elaborate terracotta figurines. His subject matter ranged widely and included genre and satirical groups on popular, topical themes, and religious figurines which were favorites for Christmas displays in homes, as well as businesses. This figurine is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic artifacts and visual materials.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Molded, polychrome terracotta figurine of a Jewish ribbon peddler in a worn brown top hat, and a long, wrinkled, dark green jacket and stained, light green, 2 button vest. He wears a discolored white collared shirt with a black tie and red kerchief. A large, woven basket full of colorful ribbons and cloth hangs at his waist, supported by a black strap slung over his right shoulder and under his left arm. He is looking to his left and lifting a large, white cloth to display his wares. He has thick eyebrows, hooded eyes, a large hooked nose, and fleshy, red lips pressed tight in an unpleasant grin. He stands on a small, green, oval base with a paper label with German and French text affixed to the front. The figure is poorly painted and the face modelling is poorly formed. It has an open, flat sliced, halfback with a hollow concave interior, unpainted with furrowed lines. For another version, see 2016.184.633. Some Sohn molds were used into the 20th century and this may be a later version of a model originally made 1820-30.
front, base, paper label, black ink : Ich bin doch aha Handelsmann / Je vend en gros et en detail [I'm a trading man / I sell wholesale and retail] back, base, red marker : 23.
People
- Sohn, Anton, 1769-1841.
Subjects
- Antisemitism in art--Germany--History--19th century.
- Jews--Folk art.
- Jewish peddlers--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Stereotypes (Social psychology) in art.
- Jews--Germany--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews in art--Germany--19th century.
Genre
- Decorative Arts
- Object