Aunt Jemima Appraisal

Vintage 'Aunt Jemima' Style Ceramic Figurine/Jar

This item is a ceramic figurine, likely a salt and pepper shaker or a small jar/container, depicting a caricatured African American woman, commonly referred to as an 'Aunt Jemima' or 'Mammy' figure. The figure is made of ceramic with hand-painted details. It stands upright, portraying a woman in a cooking stance, holding a spoon. Her skin tone is a dark brown, with facial features including large eyes with discernible pupils (white around light blue/green), a vibrant red mouth with full lips, and a broad nose. She wears a white headwrap with two prominent, rounded protrusions on top, each adorned with a blue dot. Her attire consists of a white dress or apron with a red bodice or shawl-like element and red trim along the bottom hem. The red paint shows significant chipping and flaking, revealing the white ceramic underneath, particularly on the sleeves and the base. The white area of her dress features yellow floral or abstract designs with green stems, adding a decorative touch. Her hands are depicted in brown, holding a yellow or light brown spoon. There are no visible manufacturer's marks or signatures on the exterior. The craftsmanship appears to be folk art or mass-produced novelty item quality, typical of kitchenware or decorative pieces from the early to mid-20th century. The significant paint loss indicates considerable wear and age, consistent with an item of its estimated period. These types of figures were widely produced, often as advertising mascots or household items, and their style is reminiscent of early 20th-century advertising work featuring African American women in domestic roles.