White porcelain figurine of a Jewish money changer
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 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
White porcelain figurine of a money changer with stereotypical Jewish features: an oversize nose and long, full beard, in a red-brown jacket, with an outstretched hand. This figurine is one of the 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
White painted porcelain figurine of a man in a white suit with gold cuffs, a white vest with gold polka dots, a long, brown jacket, and a top hat with gold trim. He has stereotypical Jewish features: a large nose, long, full gray beard, hooded eyes, and full, red lips. His right hand is extended, palm up, as if asking for payment, and he holds a roll, possibly of coins, in his left hand. He stands upon a raised decorative pedestal with a gold ring painted around the bottom.
Subjects
- Antisemitism--Great Britain--History--19th century.
- Antisemitism in art--Great Britain--History--19th century.
- Christianity and antisemitism--Art--Great Britain--History--19th century.
- Jews in art--Great Britain--History--19th century.
- Anti-Jewish propaganda--Great Britain--History--19th century.
- Moneylenders--Great Britain--19th century--Figurines.
Genre
- Decorative Arts
- Object