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This object contains harmful stereotypical imagery of Native Americans.
Historic New England acknowledges historical records / objects may contain harmful imagery and language reflecting attitudes and biases of their creators and time in which they were made. Historic New England does not alter or edit objects and / or historical text.
DESCRIPTION:
Tobacconist's figure, in silhouette, cut from a 1" board. Painted red on both sides, with features in black, ornaments and feathers in white, and wearing a feather headress. One arm is added separately to the body, and it holds an upraised iron tomahawk. On the reverse the arm holds the hilt of a wooden sword (now missing). The front of one foot is missing as well. It is mounted on an iron rod, and has two iron pintals for support, and it was probably a shop sign.
signboards
carving (processes)
oil paint (paint)
painting (coating)
pine (wood)
Native American
pine (wood)
Symbol, Trade
Symbol, Trade
In white paint on the lower half of the Indian's tunic is the word: MOHAWK . On a jelly label on the back of the right foot, written in blue is: Found in/a cellar/in New/York State.
Original to Cogswell's Grant (Essex, Mass.),
1991.1151
Unknown
78 x 25 3/4 x 1 (HxWxD) (inches)
Gift of Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little
1991.1048
New York state (United States)
Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact [email protected].
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