{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1247557"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1247557/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1247557","accessionNumber":"B.288:1 to 12-2011","objectType":"Sewing pattern","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This sewing pattern was made in the early 1950s by Economy Designs. It includes the pieces and instructions needed to make a stuffed toy about 45 cm tall. \n\nThe character depicted on the front of the envelope is a 'golly'. This character was first featured in Florence Upton's book 'The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwogg' (1895) and was based on the 'Blackface' performance tradition. Towards the end of the 19th century, the character gained popularity and toy makers saw potential. Golly dolls and soft toys were mass produced, and the character was used in advertising campaigns, as well as appearing in the work of other authors. \n\nHowever, the term 'golliwog' was appropriated as a racial slur, and the character itself was recognised as promoting negative stereotypes. From the 1960s onward, the golly has gradually been withdrawn from children's culture. This figure is interesting as a historical representation of race, and can help us to understand how toys and games can actively shape identities and attitudes in children and adults alike.\n\nEconomy Design produced sewing patterns for a range of character toys including Little Red Riding Hood. The patterns, printed on recycled paper during the period of austerity after the Second World War, were designed to suit a variety of fabric types and colours to use up any scraps that were available. ","physicalDescription":"Printed paper sewing pattern for soft toy golly, with envelope, instructions and nine pattern pieces. The pattern is printed on rough recycled paper. \n\nEnvelope: Colour printed white paper envelope (now in two pieces, front and back). Front is colour printed with brand name 'Economy Design' and pictures of two gollies from front and behind, with small deckchair and umbrella in background. The back is printed with list of possible materials and diagram of pack contents. \n\nInstruction sheet: Printed sheet with illustrated instructions for assembling the doll. Includes diagrams for cutting fabric.\n\nPattern pieces: Part A: Front and Back Body; Part B: Leg; Part C: Arm; Part D: Front and Back Trouser; Part E: Waistcoat; Part F: Hair Foundation; Part G: Sleeve; Part H: Back Coat; Part J: Front Coat and Lining.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Economy Design Ltd.","id":"AUTH319616"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Paper, printed","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"},{"text":"Soft toys","id":"THES274376"},{"text":"Racism","id":"THES282155"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}],[{"text":"pattern","id":"AAT28853"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"Yes-racial-stereotyping","note":"Term 'golly'/'golliwogg'"}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1950 - 1960","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1960-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Rosemary Nina Connor","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"168","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Envelope","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"105","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Envelope","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"500","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Instructions","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"340","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part A: Front and Back Body","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"240","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part B: Leg","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"270","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part C: Arm","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"290","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part D: Front and Back Trouser","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"150","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part E: Waistcoat","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"135","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part F: Hair Foundation","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"175","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part G: Sleeve","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"170","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part H: Back Coat","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"170","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part J: Front Coat and Lining","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Economy Design / No. 163 / 7 1/2 d.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on front of envelope"},{"content":"'Suitable Materials:- / <u>Body.</u> Stockinette, Serge, Wool, Cotton. / <u>Clothes.</u> Rayon, Cotton, Silk, Felt. / <u>Stuffing.</u> Kapok, Wadding, Rugging, Flocks.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on back of envelope"},{"content":"'ECONOMY PATTERNS LTD., / Portland House,  4 Gt. Portland St.  London. W.1.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on back of envelope"},{"content":"'Made in England'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on back of envelope"}],"objectHistory":"This pattern belonged to the donor's mother, Alexandra Belsby (d.1969). The pattern was kept in her sewing cupboard in their house in Blackheath, South London. The donor remembers looking at the picture on the packet 'and thinking what clothes I would make for it'. Alexandra did a lot of home sewing, but it was rare for her to use patterns. \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":"","briefDescription":"Printed sewing pattern for soft toy, Economy Design, England, 1950s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.288:1-2011","B.288:2-2011","B.288:3-2011","B.288:4-2011","B.288:5-2011","B.288:6-2011","B.288:7-2011","B.288:8-2011","B.288:9-2011","B.288:10-2011","B.288:11-2011","B.288:12-2011"],"accessionNumberNum":"288","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2011,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Pattern number","id":"THES50639"},"number":"163"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-09","recordCreationDate":"2012-06-07","availableToBook":false}}