Summary

Note: This object is a derogatory depiction of a particular cultural group. Such depictions are not condoned by Museums Victoria which considers them to be racist. Historical distance and context do not excuse or erase this fact.

Male golliwog dressed in a red and white gingham top, red pants and yellow ribbon bow around its neck. Part of an archive of unsold stock samples donated by the manufacturer.

Jakas Soft Toys was a Melbourne-based company which designed and manufactured high quality soft toys from 1956. Their range included teddy bears, golliwogs, clowns, animals and birds. They ceased production in December 1998, outlasting most other local toy manufacturers who had been unable to compete with cheaper overseas imports, mainly from Asia.

With children's health and safety in mind, the toys were made from quality fabrics, such wool and synthetic plush, non-allergic fillings and safety eyes. The toys came with care and washing instructions, while the company offered a repair service so the toys could be handed down for generations.

Golliwogs have fallen out of favour around the world in all kinds of commercial areas, from toys to children's books to foodstuffs as they have been perceived as being inherently racist.

Physical Description

Figure of a male golliwog known as 'Old Golly 13'. It has a padded body with a red and white gingham top and red cotton pants stitched in at the waist. There is a yellow satin ribbon tied into a bow around its neck. It has a black fabric face, with plastic eyes which have black pupils and white surrounds. Eyebrows, nose and mouth have been embroidered onto the face with red sewing thread. Black, plush acrylic material has been sewn onto the head as hair, and onto the ends of its arms and legs for hands and feet. There is a 'Jakas Soft Toys' swing tag and small triangular Australian Made label attached to the back of the head with a plastic joiner. A white synthetic label is sewn into the inside seam of one of its legs with the 'Jakas Soft Toys' brand name printed in blue.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Jakas Toys Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Leisure, Home & Community, Childhood

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Ms Pam Schwarz, 10 Nov 2014

  • Manufacturer

    Jakas Soft Toys, Unit 1, 85 Lewis Road, Wantirna South, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1990-1998

  • Inscriptions

    Printed in blue on white synthetic label: 'JAKAS / SOFT TOYS / GENUINE AUSTRALIAN / MADE TOYS/ AUSTRALIAN OWNED / COMPANY EST. 1956' Printed in blue on the reverse of white synthetic label: 'ALL NEW MATERIALS / POLYESTER FILLING / MACHINE WASH / ON WOOL CYCLE / USE WOOL MIX/ AUSTRALIAN MADE' Printed in green on triangular card label showing Australian Made kangaroo logo: 'AUSTRALIAN MADE' Printed in green on front side of white oval swing tag: 'JAKAS / SOFT TOYS / Genuine Australian Made / Soft Toys Since 1956' Printed in green on the back of white oval swing tag: 'Jakas is / Australia's oldest / soft toy manufacturer. / With over 40 years of / experience we create special / toys using quality fabrics, / filling and safety eyes. / Instructions: Machine wash on delicate / cycle using wool mix, dry well and brush. / If your toy should meet with an / accident call Jakas Soft Toys Pty. Ltd. / Unit 1, 85 Lewis Rd., Wantirna South / Victoria 3152 Australia / Tel: 61-3-9887 3547 / Fax: 9887 3553'.

  • Classification

    Games & toys, Dolls, Cloth

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    260 mm (Width), 70 mm (Depth), 350 mm (Height)

  • Keywords

    Toys, Australian Design, Australian Manufacturing Industry, Small Businesses, Cultural Stereotypes, Racial Identity, Discrimination