Racist trade card depicting an African American man minstrel musician to promote laundry soap. Shows the man, smiling, looking toward the viewer, sitting on a stool, bent over, and playing the cello. He picks the strings near the neck of the instrument with one hand and runs a bow along the strings at the lower body of it with the other. Sheet music is visible behind the man and above his head. The man is attired in a minstrel's costume, including a blue and white striped jacket with long tails, orange and white polka dot pants, and a white shirt with ruffles and the collar up. Lautz Bros. & Co. was originally founded in 1853 in Buffalo, New York as the Lautz Company by German immigrant Wilhelm Lautz Sr. After his death in 1866, his wife, sons, and grandsons continued to run the firm from Buffalo, New York through the early 20th century., Title from item., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1885]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Lautz [P.2017.95.103]
