Jar
Robertsons
Category
Historic Services / Food & drink preparation
Date
Unknown
Materials
Glass and metal
Measurements
119 mm (Height); 75 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Bristol
Collection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 24288.2
Summary
Redcurrent jelly jar. Round clear glass jar with metal lid. Yellow star-shaped paper label to front with black and red printing and picture of the Robertson's 'golly' logo. Back label advertises brooches and has address to send for them. 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
Front label: Robertson's / REDCURRANT JELLY Back label: Golliwog Golden Shred Works, Bristol.
Makers and roles
Robertsons , manufacturer