Golliwog Doll
Identifier
TBAFB0016
Title
Golliwog Doll
Description
Children's golliwog doll. The figure wears a red suit with a buttoned-up white waistcoat, a striped black and white bowtie, and black and white striped trousers. The figure also has characteristically red lips and white teeth, along with a long black afro - which has a silvery metallic coloured loop at the top which would have been used to hang it up, possibly as a form of decoration. There is a fabric tag on his back that would have included the manufacturing information but it has been degraded - likely due to persistent use. This Doll was very likely created by the Robertson's Jam Company as a form of advertisement - given that at this time, the figure of the 'Golliwog' had become synonymous with the company's branding.
Creator
Robertson's
Type
Fabric Doll
Relation
Facing Blackness is a multimedia exhibition that takes the public through the obscure history of portraying Black people from the colonial period to contemporary society. Using unique archive material and visual art, we show how anti-black racism became part of the Dutch 'cultural archive' and our everyday ideas, customs and utensils. On the other hand, the exhibition shows how there has always been 'everyday resistance' to various forms of racism and how Black people themselves have given and continue to give meaning to their culture and identity.
Source
The Black Archives
Format
Golliwog Doll
Subject
Black Caricature
Coverage
Suit, Waistcoat, Bowtie, Trousers, Buttons
Date
c.1960?
Physical Dimensions
35x12x48
Country of Production
England
Place of Production
Manchester?
Keywords
Golliwog, Doll, Caricature, Children's Toy
Copyright
Robinsons
Rightholder
Robertson's
Archived By
Richard Weaver
Oral History
Through research, Richard discovered that the Robinsons company responsible for the golliwog jam jar also manufactured these dolls as an accompaniment.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golliwog; http://www.teddybears.com/golliwog/direct.html; https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/golliwog/homepage.htm; https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/various-578396v
Collection
Citation
Robertson's, “Golliwog Doll,” The Black Archives, accessed April 22, 2025, https://collection.theblackarchives.nl/items/show/3450.