-Golliwog- still bank c. 1910 - 1925

This cast iron still bank, created by John Harper & Company, Ltd. sometime between 1910 and 1925, depicts a figure in the style of the Golliwog, a controversial caricature of black people. Despite being a popular children’s character in the early 20th century, the Golliwog is now widely seen as offensive and racist due to its origins in racist minstrel shows. The bank, part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection, stands at just over 5 inches tall and serves as a reminder of the complex history of racial representation in popular culture.