{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1171788"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1171788/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1171788","accessionNumber":"B.60-2010","objectType":"Soft toy","titles":[{"title":"'Jolly Golly Talking Golly'","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Large fabric 'golly' soft toy with plastic eyes and mouth. It is dressed in black shoes, checked trousers, red waist coat, blue corduroy jacket and a lace neck ruffle. It has a flower on its right lapel. The internal talking mechanism has been removed. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Pedigree","id":"A3458"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"textile","id":"x41581"}],"techniques":[{"text":"machine stitching","id":"x29587"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Machine stiched textile ","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"},{"text":"Racism","id":"THES282155"},{"text":"Soft toys","id":"THES274376"},{"text":"Character merchandise","id":"THES274371"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR009","id":"THES341089"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"soft toy","id":"AAT211332"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"Yes-racial-stereotyping","note":"Term 'golly'/'golliwogg'"}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ireland","id":"x32424"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1964","earliest":"1964-01-01","latest":"1964-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Donald Arkinstall","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"57","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Pedigree / Made in Ireland'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This item belonged to Dennis Arkinstall, who worked for Lines Brothers Ltd as a sculptor. It was given to the museum by his son after his death.\n\nThe original golly was a central character in a series of books published between 1895 and 1909. Bertha Upton (1849–1912) wrote the books and her daughter, Florence Kate Upton (1873–1922), illustrated them. They based the character ‘Golliwogg’ (as it was originally spelled) on a doll Florence owned as a child growing up in 1880s America. The appearance and clothing of the doll (see B.493-1997) is based on the ‘blackface minstrel’ figure, a 19th-century racial caricature of African Americans. Blackface minstrel shows were performed by white actors and singers, who parodied African Americans by darkening their skins with shoe polish or burnt cork. These portrayals perpetuated many negative stereotypes and were steeped in racism. The shows originated in the USA, with the first widely known blackface character, ‘Jim Crow’, appearing around 1830. Soon after it became popular in the UK, which developed its own blackface traditions.\r\n\r\nFlorence moved to the UK in the 1890s, where the Uptons’ books became very popular. Their Golliwogg character was not copyrighted, allowing multiple representations of the golly to enter the public domain. The character featured in British toys, games, textiles, ceramics and children’s books, and was used as a mascot by the food manufacturer, Robertson’s, from about 1910. From the 1980s the character’s popularity began to wane as campaigners fought against the racist stereotypes that the golly represented. Robertson’s continued to promote the figure as part of a British ‘national tradition’ until 2001, when they stopped using the golly in their branding. ","historicalContext":"Dennis Arkinstall was a sculptor and worked in research and development for Lines Brothers, particularly dolls which were produced under the Pedigree trade name.  It is not clear when when Dennis started working at the factory, but we know that he was an influential figure in designing their most popular doll Sindy, which was  introduced 1963.  \r\n\r\nArkinstall's collection includes dolls from other manufacturers; he would have collected them to inspire new ideas. They are often just heads, which was not  uncommon as these were usually exported in large numbers and the bodies made at their destination as it was a cheaper way to manufacture them. The collection  also includes moulds and experimental pieces from the factory, as well as complete ones in their presentation boxes.","briefDescription":"'Golly' soft toy, made by Pedigree in Ireland about 1964","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Can be found on page 17 of Pedigree's 1964 catalogue. ","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.60-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"60","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2010-08-31","availableToBook":false}}