“Blackamoore” Salt and Pepper Shakers

This catalog is an ongoing project as we continue adding new pieces and researching listed items. If you have any information about an object in this collection, please reach out to us at info@aahafauquier.org

Description:

Ceramic salt and pepper shaker set in the form of “Blackamoore” figures. The first figure is meant for the salt and the second figure is meant for the pepper. Both wear turbans and sit with their feet together and arms crossed. These pieces were made in occupied Japan, placing them between 1945-1952.

Product Origin:

Japan.

Background:

The “Blackamoore” visual troop originated from 17th Century Europe following the arrival of African individuals with a Moorish descent. These depictions are rooted in colonization and the romanticizing of slavery.

To learn more about the “Blackamoore” image, read, “Serving as Ornament: The Representation of African People in Early Modern British Interiors and Gardens” by Hannah Lee.

Statement: We understand these objects may inflict offense through their embodiment of racist ideology by depicting stereotypical and discriminatory imagery and language. However, we hope to educate our community and encourage personal reflection through interacting and understanding the historical context of these objects, rather than ignoring them.