Porcelain figurine of a Jewish ribbon peddler in a green coat
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 5.250 inches (13.335 cm) | Width: 2.500 inches (6.35 cm) | Depth: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm)
Creator(s)
- Peter Ehrenthal (Compiler)
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
Painted porcelain figurine of an oddlooking Jewish peddler in a green overcoat and purple jacket with ribbons hanging around his waist. This is a smaller reproduction of a design by 19th century Staffordshire potters, such as Minton. Jewish peddlers were a familiar sight in 19th century London, especially following the large influx of East European Jews. Those who arrived with no money, could acquire goods on credit and immediately begin selling items on the street. Others were continuing the trade they had pursued previously. 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
Glazed and painted, slipcast, porcelain figurine of a ribbon peddler wearing a black top hat, a green overcoat, a dark purple jacket, a white with brown accents vest, white shirt with a red and yellow cravat, brown pants, and black shoes. His face is elongated and his neck is thivk. He has a white complexion, a neat short brown beard and sideburns, with some stereotypically Jewish features: thick eyebrows, a large, pointed nose, and thick lips around an open mouth. Hanging around his waist ai 2 overlapped layers are strands of brightly colored and patterned ribbons, and some white patterned cloths. He holds up 3 large pieces of patterned cloth in his right hand and leans on a brown pole on the right. The interior is hollow and white, with an open, sliced halfback. The figure stands, feet even and shoulder width, on a white, oval pedestal, with a green top, gold line border along the top and bottom, and a gold floral and leaf pattern on the front. See 2016.184.20 for a similar, but larger, figurine.
Subjects
- Jewish peddlers--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews--Great Britain--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Stereotypes (Social psychology) in art.
- Jews in art.
Genre
- Object
- Decorative Arts