Bronze cast figurine of a Jewish matchmaker with his umbrella

Identifier
irn545051
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2016.184.615
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 3.500 inches (8.89 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm)

Creator(s)

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

Small bronze figurine of a Jewish shadchan wearing a long overcoat with an umbrella hanging on his arm. The man has several stereotypical physical features commonly attributed to Jewish men: a large nose, hooded eyes, and a beard. In the 19th century, a Jewish man with an umbrella became a common stereotype and featured prominently in antisemitic depictions of Eastern European Jews. Umbrellas were a common accessory carried by Jewish peddlers who spent most of their time outdoors, and this stereotype may have originated with them. Shadchan (sometimes spelled, shadkhan) is the Hebrew term for a matchmaker, also known as a marriage broker. Male matchmakers are called shadchans, female ones are shadchanit. In return for financial compensation, a matchmaker would suggest prospective marriage mates based on the compatibility of the individuals and the suitability of their families. The matchmaker would then coach them through the courting process. Over time, the societal role of the matchmaker began to decline. However, the archetypal character of a Jewish matchmaker who glosses over physical and character defects of their clients has remained. 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

Cast bronze figurine with remnants of gold-colored wash of a Jewish man in a rumpled, ankle-length coat, domed top hat, and flat shoes, with a large crook handled umbrella on his left forearm. He stands, bent to the left, gesturing with his left arm, wrist up, in front of his hip, and his right arm bent out at the side, also wrist up. His mouth is open wide, and he speaks with an animated expression. He has thick eyebrows, hooded eyes, a large nose, and a stringy beard. He stands on a hollow, domed, circular base.

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.