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Catalog Data

Manufactured by:
Hawley & Hazel Group, Chinese, founded 1933  Search this
Medium:
cardboard
Dimensions:
H x W x D (2007.7.463.1): 5 × 1 1/2 × 1 in. (12.7 × 3.8 × 2.5 cm)
Type:
boxes (containers)
Place made:
Thailand, Asia
Date:
1933-1985
Description:
A thin cardboard "Darkie" brand toothpaste box, with writing printed in English and Thai. Both the front and back of the box feature a black and white illustration of a caricature of a wide-eyed, smiling man wearing a top hat, white shirt, black jacket and a bow tie. The white and black text above the image on each side reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE]. Red writing, in Thai, is printed under the image. The bottom third of the box front has a circular logo with three circles split into black and white semicircles and text above and below the middle circle that reads [HAWLEY & HAZEL / BLACK & WHITE]. At the bottom of the front panel is black text that reads [HAWLEY & HAZEL / CHEMICAL CO. LTD.]. The back of the box is identical to the front except for the Thai text in black at the bottom and a white sticker over the man’s face with blue text that reads [BEST] at the top and Thai at the bottom followed by [5%]. The thinner sides of the box are green, one side printed in English and the other in the foreign language. The English side reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE / Contains Fluoride]. The top flap is white, green, and black with lettering in Thai. The bottom is green, white, and black with English lettering that reads [DARKIE / TOOTH PASTE / MEDIUM SIZE / 10.00 / (baht currency symbol)].
Statement:
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Advertising  Search this
Caricature and cartoons  Search this
Stereotypes  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Object number:
2007.7.463.1
Restrictions & Rights:
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title:
Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Classification:
Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5afbf70c7-3272-4f6f-a3b2-067d9ccdb281
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2007.7.463.1