Excelsior metal polish, for polishing and cleaning cutlery, brass, copper, tin ware and all bright steel and metal work [graphic].
Title
Excelsior metal polish, for polishing and cleaning cutlery, brass, copper, tin ware and all bright steel and metal work
Description
Trade card promoting metal polish manufacturer Walpole Emery Mills and depicting a racist caricature of an African American woman domestic polishing cookware. Shows an African American woman portrayed with exaggerated features and attired in a red and yellow striped head kerchief; a blue short-sleeved shirt; a red and yellow shawl; a red skirt; and a white apron with red polka dots, smiling and looking at the viewer. She holds a brush in her right hand and a pot in her left hand. In the left, a brown-haired white woman, attired in a yellow dress with white ruffles at the neck and sleeves and a red bow, bends over a table with a plate in her hands as she looks at the African American woman. In the foreground, two white children look at the reflection of their cat in a polished pan. A boy, attired in a blue Fauntleroy outfit, smiles with his arms apart as he looks down at the pan. A white girl, attired in a white dress decorated with orange bows at the shoulders, sits on the floor and holds the pan up with her right hand. She holds an orange cat with black stripes up to the pan with her left hand. The cat arcs its back with its fur standing up and has its mouth wide open. In the left is an oversized can labeled, "Trademark Excelsior Metal Polish Manufactured by the Walpole Emery Mills 114 Milk Street Boston." On top of the can is another orange cat with black stripes that is arching its back with its mouth open in alarm. In the background is a cupboard with plates and bowls on the shelves. In the right is a table with a large stock pot and lid and a can of metal polish with a skillet hanging from a hook at the front of the table. Walpole Emery Mills, manufacturers of Excelsior metal polish, was founded in 1877 in South Walpole, Massachusetts. The company operated into the 20th century., Title from item., Distributor’s imprint printed on verso: Holway, Wright & Miner, Manufacturers' agents, New York: 167 Chambers Street. Boston: 135 State Street., Advertising text printed on verso: Excelsior metal polish. Acknowledged the cheapest and best article known for cleaning and polishing cutlery, brass, tin ware, and all kitchen utensils, sewing machine plates, nickel plate, bath tubs, copper boilers, bicycles, needles, scissors, carpenter's tools, and all bright metal and steel work. A single trial will prove it to be a household and mechanical necessity. It is neatly put up in tin cans, containing one pound, half-pound and quarter-pound each, with directions for using. Price list. 1/4 lb. cans...10 cents each. 1/2 lb"....15"". 1 lb"...25"". For sale by grocers, druggists, hardware stove and tinware dealers. Illustration of a can of Excelsior metal polish., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1890]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Excelsior [P.2017.95.61]