Not currently on display at the V&A

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Figure

ca. 1960 (made)

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 7 parts.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
Brief description
Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960

Robertson's "Golly" band; Painted clay, English/Foreign, c.1960
Object history
The original golliwog was a central character in a series of books by Bertha and Florence Upton published between 1895 and 1909. Florence, the illustrator of the stories, based the golliwog on a doll she had acquired in the US in the 1880s. The appearance of this doll was influenced by the Blackface performance tradition. From the late 19th century until the 1960s, the golliwog flourished as a toy. Its image featured on toys, games, textiles and ceramics and was also used by food companies. From the 1970s the golliwog’s popularity began to wane as many British people felt that it promoted racial stereotypes.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.194:1-1987

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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