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One of the most distinctive pieces to be produced came from the Staffordshire pottery of Ridgway and Abingdon, and in time, came to be referred to as 'the slavery relief jug'.
The jug displays two very compelling scenes from the novel: the dreadful slave auction depicting a devastated and weeping, soon-to-be-separated slave family on one side, and on the other side, the fugitive slave, Eliza, fleeing north from enslavement with her baby in her arms across the ice floes of the Ohio River. A notable detail on the side of the jug depicting the auction- the broadside posted on the auctioneer's podium reads, "By Auction this Day a Prime Lot of Negroes".
In addition to these two scenes, the jug handle is decorated with the iconic image of the head and clasped hands of a slave (presumably Uncle Tom) in prayer.
The underside of the jug is stamped by the maker and is dated January 1, 1853, indicating that it was produced within just months of the 1852 publication of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.
Made of Parian stoneware, the jug measures approximately 7 inches high, with an approximate 3.5 inch diameter mouth. The jug is in all-original and overall excellent condition. Two slight and tight hairline cracks are evident at the base and are best viewed by looking into the interior of the jug as their presence is much more subtle on the exterior and thus more difficult to photograph. One of these hairlines is present along the foot of the jug; the other occurs a bit higher up in acanthus leaves that border the baseline near the ice floes. A single, tight hairline is also present at the interior mouth near the handle (please refer to all photos). None of the hairlines affect structural integrity as they are quite tight; they are not atypical given the jug's 150+ years of age.
An exceptional and formidable piece of history, very rarely found in today's antiques market!
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Measuring 11 inches by 25 inches wide, the piece is signed in the lower right corner, "Copyright by McCrary & Branson 189_ Knoxville, Tenn.", with the numeral 7 gone due to missing bits of the paper edge. Research has documented the copyright date of 1897.
The condition is very fine and all-original including the wooden frame and wooden backing. The glass is a replacement. There is some minor water damage here and there along the lower edge as documented in photos which does not impact the image. Some minor paper edge loss is noted in photos.
Indeed, an extraordinarily powerful and historic piece!
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These iron, hand-forged, 19th century slave ship shackles were purchased back in the early 1960’s out of a family estate in New Orleans, Louisiana, whose 18th and 19th century ancestors were involved in the slave trade. The shackles remain all-original and untouched with fifteen very heavy chain links that vary in size, measuring a total of 40 inches in length when positioned in a straight line. The cuff size is enormous with diameter measurements of 4.75 and 4.25 inches each; the heft and weight of each cuff is quite impressive. This very weighty set was designed to immobilize when the two circular links were attached to another locking shackle on the interior wall of the ship. An utterly horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.
The anonymous museum benefactor from Georgia kept this particular set aside from those items he had planned to donate to the Middle Passage Museum due to the rarity in opportunity of acquiring slave ship shackles---the only set he acquired in his many years of collecting which began in the early 1950's before the collectible field of Black Americana was popular or even socially or politically acceptable.
Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are a rarely found, 19thC Slave Rattle Shackle out of the Charleston, South Carolina area and a set of early 19th century, child/young adolescent - size, Slave Crab Rattle Shackles. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find these sets of shackles.
The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.
In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."
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The graphic of Mammy remains in very fine condition as are the painted list of groceries. Some old splintering of the wood on sides and edges add to the board's all original vintage patina! This memo board was once sold as a Canadian souvenir piece as it still retains its original "St Stephen Canada Maple Leaf" decal.
The white, shiny spots that may appear in the photos are the result of camera flash glare only and are not imperfections to this piece. Wood color is richer than photos could capture.
These pieces are heavily reproduced in today's market; however, it is quite uncommon to find a genuinely vintage, Mammy Memo Board with so many original pegs in such fine, vintage condition!!!
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From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs. Concepcion Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the great artistry of her famous father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners selling their wares or practicing their trade - black folk performing everyday activities that would have been daily seen on the streets of the city.
Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royal in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia / Black Americana Collectible arena.
This figure, known as the Spanish Moss Seller with Alligator, was recently de-accessioned from the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum collection, Baton Rouge, LA, having been acquired by the museum from a private collector in January 1979.
The Spanish Moss Seller with Alligator was one of the most popular of the renowned Vargas figures, highly sought after by visitors to the city of New Orleans. On his back he balances a very large bale of Spanish moss, while holding tight to a rope that is connected to a very young alligator perched at his feet.
Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This gentleman Spanish Moss Seller with Alligator wears a red floral kerchief around his neck, a yellow straw hat on his head, a green flowered shirt, tan striped pants, and black "leather" shoes. His costume is entirely constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. The Spanish Moss Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base.
This wonderful figure is in amazing condition for his 90+ years of age with three minor restorations likely performed by the professionals at the LSU Rural Life Museum: a repaired right hand, and two re-attached feet on the alligator.
A true must-have piece for the ardent collector of New Orleans Black folk character figures!
Please take a moment to view the additional Vargas figures we currently have the pleasure of offering for sale. Type "Vargas" into the search box on our website homepage.
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In utterly excellent condition with the only flaws noted being subtle wear to the paper dust jacket and a past owner's name and address, this version of the Little Black Sambo story is highly collectible as any item produced by its publisher, Platt & Munk, is aggressively sought-after due to the company’s reputation for use of extraordinarily vivid graphics.
This mini book is sixty-two pages long with 29 vividly colored illustrations designed and executed by the author, Frank Ver Beck.
A must have edition for the collector of Little Black Sambo books!
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From approximately 1915 through the 1930's, Mrs. Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the artistry of her father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners while growing up. Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royale in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia Collectible arena.
This particular figure is known as The Banjo Player and is actually quite rare and very difficult to find in today's collectible market, likely because there were not as many Banjo players crafted as opposed to the more commonly found Vargas cotton pickers or praline sellers.
Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. The Banjo Player wears a tan hat with black band, a green flowered neck scarf, a red and yellow patterned shirt and textured, loose-fitting black pants- with all but the hat constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. He supports all of his weight on his back left leg while propping his right leg up upon an actual wooden log as he plays! His wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is attached to the wooden base via his left leg.
This wonderful figure is in very fine condition for his 85+ years of age with the following imperfections: missing left-hand fingers (an unfortunate, but extremely common consequence of time), and the most obvious imperfection being a missing section of his hat brim. It is evident that the banjo has been re-glued into position over the years---a situation which does not surprise me given that the banjo is only supported by the left hand and propped upon the right leg--not a very secure position from a constructional viewpoint.
Regardless of his minor imperfections, this VARGAS figure would be classified as in FINE condition. Wax is a very delicate and fragile medium in which to work, and some loss is expected given that these figures are fast approaching 100+ years of age. The banjo player's brilliantly executed face with open mouth filled with song, his realistic and intact banjo complete with all original strings, and his incredibly natural and realistic pose remains a most delightful snapshot of C1920 New Orleans African American cultural history!
Please note- photos were taken in interior natural light. The first two photos best represent true, actual color. Any white or light spots on the figure are a result of light glare and are not reflective of discoloration or fading.
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Manufactured by FOSTA Products, this highly sought after piece of Black Memorabilia is in near mint condition with some light superficial scratching that is only visible when the box is held under bright lighting and angled to catch the light just right! A small paint rub to the tip of Aunt Jemima’s nose and some 1950’s dirt tucked into tiny crevices are the only other imperfections! The gold painted word, “RECIPES” , written on the lid is mint! Truly in very, very fine condition----- most fortuitous as these recipe boxes were usually well used!
A delightful and essential, vintage piece of early 50’s Black Americana for the serious collector!
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This neat toy features four adorable blinky-eyed Golliwogs that perform individual somersaults as the Merry Go Round spins round and the tiny bell rings! This toy works quite nicely and comes with its original, metal, wind-up key!
This sweet toy appears to have been virtually unused with no wear evident other than some slight superficial scratching to the base. While there are no manufacturer’s marks, this toy was made in post WWII West Germany, and it does retain a paper sticker on its base written in German. This toy, with its red house, is a bit rarer than the same-period-white-colored-house-version; relatively fewer were produced with the red house!!
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A much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two young daughters while they lived in India, Sambo, in the original tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted over time to this race, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!
Condition is 8 out of 10. This book has seen careful but frequent use with moderate wear to book cover edges as well as the red cloth spine cover. While the binding remains quite tight, surface soiling to covers and some interior pages is evident. The inside front cover reveals a penned inscription from an aunt to her nephew at Christmas, 1937.
This book retains outstanding, bold and brilliant coloring of all illustrations--- just fabulous---given its 89+ years of age!
There are small tears at the bottom of the following pages very near the bound side of the pages ranging from 1/2 to 1.5 inches long; some tears have old tape repairs: pages 9, 18, 19,20, 28, 33, 47, 49, 58.
A unique copy!
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From approximately 1915 through the 1930's, Mrs. Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the artistry of her father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners while growing up. Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royale in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia Collectible arena.
This figure, known as the Female Vegetable Seller, is one of the more difficult to find of the New Orleans street character wax dolls. Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This female Vegetable Seller wears a multi-colored kerchief on her head, a red and cream polka dot scarf around her neck, a cream shirt decorated with red flowers, a blue and white polka dot apron and pale blue skirt decorated with a sea of multi-colored flowers - all constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. Balanced on her arm is a removable, wax, wicker-look basket filled with cabbage, carrots and rhubarb. The Vegetable Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base.
This wonderful figure is in amazing condition for her 75+ years of age with no apparent or visible imperfections other than two missing fingers on her left hand, a condition which is quite commonly found in Vargas figures. A highly collectible piece representing 1920s New Orleans's African American culture. Vargas figures are becoming increasingly more difficult to find!!
Type "Vargas" into the SEARCH box to see the other Vargas figure currently available: 1920 RARE New Orleans Vargas Wax Black Doll Female Cotton Seller+Child
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The now empty tin features the Banania brand trademark graphic of a smiling Blackamoor.
Condition is all-original with some wear to tin from use as seen in photos. Light superficial rusting present here and there that does not affect tin integrity and is mostly noted on interior surfaces.
This tin is widely reproduced today, with the original tin very, very difficult to find. A fabulous opportunity to add an authentic vintage BANANIA collectible to one's Black Memorabilia collection!
***Please view the smaller, vintage, BANANIA tin currently available as well as an exceedingly rare, vintage, Banania dexterity puzzle***.
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I have never seen this piece before, nor have I seen it pictured in any Black Memorabilia Reference books!
Circa 1940's, this hefty and very well-constructed piece is made of solid wood and measures 14 inches high x 9.25 inches wide x 3 inches deep. It weighs nearly 4 lbs!
This wonderful piece of Black Memorabilia may be displayed as a free standing shelf piece or may be hung (original hanging hole present!).
The condition and visual clarity of the Mammy graphic (Mammy scratching her head in her attempt to remember her grocery list!) as well as the grocery list text remains superb and vibrant! This graphic is printed on a solid, 5/8 inch thick, wooden board that slides up and out of the red frame to reveal the 5 slot knife box interior! The box also has a single hole beside the knife slots presumably to hold a wooden spoon! Turn the wooden grocery list board over and one finds a cutting board!!! How very, very clever! The grocery list peg holes are found within the frame of the knife box as opposed to the common placement on the grocery list board; one original wooden peg remains.
The piece is in very fine condition with some superficial wear to the red paint in appropriate locations, some old grime, and a few white paint spatters at the top of the box where the knife slots are located (all of which will be left to the new owner to clean or retain!) No manufacturer's mark.
Truly a fabulous and most RARE piece of Black Americana!
Withdrawn
This product was produced by the lime manufacturers, Hatmaker and Place, of Canaan, Connecticut, in the late 1800s. This small company was located within a large "lime belt" that stretched from Connecticut to Vermont. Back in the day, lime powder mixed with water was quite commonly used to "white wash" or paint numerous surfaces, and it was also used as a medicinal disinfectant! The manufacture of lime from marble was one of the earliest and most successful mineral industries in Connecticut, with historical records dating the establishment of the first CT lime manufactory to 1722.
Given its age and the fragility of paper, condition of this wonderful box is quite good. The lower portion of the back side of the box evidences light surface wear with some of the printing on the lower portion of the box worn away as a result. The front of the box has a 3.25 inch long tear which resulted in the loss of the lime powder from the box.
This early piece of Black Americana advertising is EXCEEDINGLY RARE and may well be a ONE-OF-A-Kind item! The Hatmaker and Place Company was one of a number of very small manufactories located within the "lime belt" that were ALL bought out and immediately closed down by a wealthy group of investors who then created and incorporated the mammoth monopoly, The New England Lime Company, early in 1902.
This fabulous piece of Black Americana is NOT to be missed by the serious collector!
SOLD
From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs. Concepcion Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the great artistry of her father who also famously sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners selling their wares or practicing their trade - black folk performing everyday activities that would have been daily seen on the streets of the city.
Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royal in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia / Black Americana Collectible arena.
This figure, known as the Cotton Seller, was recently de-accessioned from the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum collection, Baton Rouge, LA, having been acquired by the museum from a private collector in January 1979.
This female Cotton Seller is a bit unusual as she has a simple, red-patterned cloth draped over her head, neck, and shoulders to protect from the sun, instead of the more typically-found bandanna worn by the majority of female street vendors. She holds a wax "wicker" basket in her right arm that is brimming with freshly-picked cotton, and at her feet, her left hand balances a large burlap bag containing much, much more cotton.
Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This gentlewoman Cotton Seller wears a red floral kerchief around her neck, a green patterned shirt, and a delightful yellow skirt patterned all over with clusters of hearts, which nearly conceals her black "leather" shoes. Her costume is entirely constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. The Cotton Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base.
This wonderful figure is in absolutely amazing condition for her 90+ years of age with only one imperfection: a missing index finger on her left hand- a common condition occurring due to the extreme delicacy and fragility of the wax.
Please take a moment to view the additional Vargas figures we currently have the pleasure of offering for sale. Type "Vargas" into the search box on our website homepage.
SOLD
From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs. Concepcion Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the great artistry of her famous father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners selling their wares or practicing their trade - black folk performing everyday activities that would have been daily seen on the streets of the city.
Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royal in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia / Black Americana Collectible arena.
This figure, known as the Female Vegetable Seller Smoking a Pipe, was recently de-accessioned from the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum collection, Baton Rouge, LA, having been acquired by the museum from a private collector in January 1979.
The Female Vegetable Seller Smoking a Pipe was one of the most popular of the renowned Vargas figures, highly sought after by visitors to the city of New Orleans. Her vegetables were hand-sculpted with exquisite detail and coloring, and her corncob pipe evens presents a red flame in the center of the pipe's bowl, adding to the superlative character authenticity of this Vargas street vendor.
Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This gentlewoman Vegetable Seller wears a yellow floral kerchief around her neck, a red patterned bandanna on her head, a red, blue, and yellow plaid shirt and skirt, a blue floral-patterned apron around her waist, and black "leather" shoes. Her costume is entirely constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. The Vegetable Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base which, underneath, still retains its original "Harriet's" sticker.
This wonderful figure is in incredible condition for her 90+ years of age with, amazingly, only one minor restoration likely performed by the professionals at the LSU Rural Life Museum: a repaired carrot held in her right hand! It is a true rarity that the Vegetable Seller's corncob pipe and all fingers remain present given their highly delicate and fragile nature!
A true must-have piece for the ardent collector of New Orleans Black folk character figures!
Please take a moment to view the additional Vargas figures we currently have the pleasure of offering for sale. Type "Vargas" into the search box on our website homepage.
SOLD
Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are a second set of rarely found, Georgia, child's, slave shackles (no key with this set) that is featured in the last photo. An additional set of ADULT shackles is also available. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find all 3 sets of shackles currently offered for sale.
The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.
In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."