Skip to content

Museum object · Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

String holder in the form of a stereotypical "Mammy" figure

ca. 1920-1930s

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
Visit the source record ↗

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Ceramic string holder in the form of a stereotypical "Mammy" figure. The figure is painted and glazed. The face and hands are painted black. The whites of the eyes are prominent. The figure is depicted as wearing a red kerchief and light yellow dress. The dress has green vertical and brown horizontal stripes, creating a plaid-like pattern, at chest and skirt. The hands are a single mass in front of the chest. There is a circular hole in the center of the figure's chest, above the hands. The back of the figure is unpainted ceramic with a large open cavity in the center. The inside of the cavity is painted light yellow and glazed. There is a circular hold at the top, at the figure's neck area.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2007.7.42

Continue exploring Series 1

Everyday Life & Community →

Explore all Series 1 cards →