Terracotta figurine of a Jewish haggler
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 6.750 inches (17.145 cm) | Width: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Depth: 1.125 inches (2.858 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, The Schacherjude [The Haggling Jew], modelled by Anton Sohn in early 19th century Germany. It is a satirical depiction of a negative Jewish stereotype, the bargainer, an upright figure in a black tricorn hat, coat, and an umbrella, gesturing and yelling to someone. 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 the 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, hand painted terracotta figurine of a left facing Jewish peddler in a black tricorn hat, a long green coat, yellow stockings, and brown shoes. He holds a closed purple umbrella with yellow stripes by the tip in his right hand and a bulging white sack under his left arm. He gestures with his left hand and his mouth is open, as if yelling to someone. He has smooth black hair, dark eyes, a brown beard with sideburns, and a large nose. He stands on a green oval base with a paper label on the front. It has an open, flat sliced, halfback with a hollow concave interior, painted white with furrowed lines. The figure is discolored with some paint loss.
base, printed on paper, black ink : Nÿt z' handle? [? Bargain?] back, red marker : 47
People
- Sohn, Anton, 1769-1841.
Subjects
- Stereotypes (Social psychology) in art.
- Jews--Folk art.
- Jews--Germany--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Antisemitism in art--Germany--History--19th century.
- Jewish peddlers--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews in art--Germany--19th century.
Genre
- Decorative Arts
- Object