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Tap-Dancing Dinah

Jig Doll
1940 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Novelty dancing toy, boxed, with instructions. The dancing puppet is a jointed wooden figure representing a racialized caricature of a sub-Sarahan African woman. It is painted black and is naked except for a grass skirt made from dyed and undyed straw. It has large painted yellow earrings, and red, yellow and white bracelets. Its painted eyes look to the toy's left, and the large, red mouth has a smiling expression. The figure's breasts are two wooden discs, with the nails used to fasten them to the body representing nipples. The figure is simply jointed at the shoulders, hips and knees. A long metal wire is affixed to its back by a screw, terminating at the other end with a loop.

With the figure is a cut plywood board, which twists slightly along its length. This is the surface on which the figure 'dances'. There is a printed paper sheet of instructions. With the toy is its original box, made from card and stapled. Affixed to the lid is a colour printed label, advertising the toy's appeal, indicating its use and showing an illustration of Dinah dancing to music.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.

  • Puppet
  • Board
  • Instructions
  • Lid
  • Box
TitleTap-Dancing Dinah (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Painted wood; printed paper; metal
Brief description
Novelty toy, 'Tap Dancing Dinah', boxed wooden articulated figure; made in England, Waddy Productions (Amalgamated Press), 1940-41
Physical description
Novelty dancing toy, boxed, with instructions. The dancing puppet is a jointed wooden figure representing a racialized caricature of a sub-Sarahan African woman. It is painted black and is naked except for a grass skirt made from dyed and undyed straw. It has large painted yellow earrings, and red, yellow and white bracelets. Its painted eyes look to the toy's left, and the large, red mouth has a smiling expression. The figure's breasts are two wooden discs, with the nails used to fasten them to the body representing nipples. The figure is simply jointed at the shoulders, hips and knees. A long metal wire is affixed to its back by a screw, terminating at the other end with a loop.

With the figure is a cut plywood board, which twists slightly along its length. This is the surface on which the figure 'dances'. There is a printed paper sheet of instructions. With the toy is its original box, made from card and stapled. Affixed to the lid is a colour printed label, advertising the toy's appeal, indicating its use and showing an illustration of Dinah dancing to music.
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
THE CRAZE of 1938 THE RAGE of 1939 THE RIOT of 1940 (Printed on label affixed to lid of box.)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lois Anne Clater
Object history
Bequeathed by Lois Anne Clater. 'Peerless Trading' was a fancy goods shop and toy importer located in Harrogate, Yorkshire, the business was owned by Albert Edward Conway. Lois Anne Clater was the daughter of Albert Edward Conway, and it was from her the Museum received four objects (see B.48 to 51-2017). The family believe these toys were originally acquired as trade samples for Peerless Trading, and that they were not played with.
Production
Waddy Productions, best known as a maker of card games, was a branch of the Amalgamated Press Group.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.48:1 to 5-2017

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Record createdJune 22, 2017
Record URL
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