Mincemeat jar
James Robertson & Sons Ltd
Category
Historic Services / Food & drink preparation
Date
Unknown
Materials
Glass and metal
Measurements
119 mm (Height); 75 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
England
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 24288.1
Summary
Mincemeat jar. Round clear glass jar with metal lid. Red and pink rectangular paper label to front with black and white printing. Back label rectangular with advertising in multicolour print. Lid white with red rim and black printing with picture of a 'golly'. The Golliwogg character was created by American-born illustrator Florence Upton, in a series of British children’s books which she co-authored with her mother Bertha Upton. The character was not copyrighted, and ‘golliwog’ or 'golly' dolls based on it became popular toys in Britain from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Upton based the character on a doll from her own childhood which was bought in the United States in the 1880s and was likely to have been inspired by minstrel entertainers who performed in blackface. The dolls share many characteristics associated with minstrelsy and racist caricatures of Black people, including their bowties, tailcoats, and exaggerated hair, lips and painted black skin. In 1910 the British marmalade and jam manufacturer Robertson’s adopted a ‘golly’ as their brand mascot, featuring their version of the doll on their products. From the mid 1920s until 2001 the brand produced collectibles featuring the ‘golly’ which consumers could order with tokens from their jars.
Provenance
Purchased from the estate of the late Lord Wraxall with the assistance of the NHMF and donations from members and supporters.
Marks and inscriptions
On label: Robertson's / MINCEMEAT / JAS. ROBERTSON AND SONS, P.M. LTD., PAISLEY, MANCHESTER, BRISTOL, LONDON.
Makers and roles
James Robertson & Sons Ltd, manufacturer