Blackamoors

[mountaingal]

Re: Blackamoors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most of what I have read of the sculptures/figures mention that the figures were usually depicted as servants. they emerged in the 17th century.

Was wondering what anyone else thought of them.

One comment I read on the internet mentioned that they were pretty common in Venice (and other parts of Italy) though I certainly didn't see any.

There are some African American people who collect them, that's why I asked.

Am certainly not drawn to them and don't really care for the sculptures

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ah. complex and interesting subject, fraught with revisionism about the moors, who they were (were they black), what their iconography in european heraldry means, etc. blackamoor (from black as a moor) became a generic term for a person of dark skin, whether servant or military leader.

[Gen]

Re: Blackamoors

[Gen]

Re: Blackamoors

am not quite sure, bumped into them about 12 years ago but never took the time to dig deeper into origin, meaning etc.

not sure how or if they are offensive since mi nuh know much bout them, just a do likkle research now


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nunya</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you guys think of them ? Do you collect any ?
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Are they the types of statuettes you'd see on a few strange people's lawn? You know, the little black boy, looking like he just stepped straight out of a Mark Twain novel, usually about two to three feet high - that sorta thing? If yes, definitely don't like them!!!! Find those repelling and demeaning... </div></div>

[mountaingal]

Re: Blackamoors

those lawn jockeys may have their original roots in european functional sculpture, or could just simply be a remnant of slavery. they were the original tying posts for horses.



dem a mek dem white now outta political correctnes.

[mountaingal]

Re: Blackamoors

wole eapa blackamoor stuff yahsuh, mostly canglestick

pair of venetian bronze blackamoor figurine candles

[Gen]

Re: Blackamoors

mi see couple blogs where whites ask

&quot;fabulous or offensive&quot;

in reference to displaying their antiques

[mountaingal]

Re: Blackamoors

i guess it can be both, depending on ur motivation for collecting such stuff.

i could see myself doing that as a history lesson to me and my kids. sometimes when u &quot;own&quot; something deemed potentially offensive, u are in a position to provide a teachable moment, even if the ongle thing u a teach is that yes, dem had black ppl all dem years ago in europe and before that too, black history outside africa didnt start with the translantic slave trade.

[Nunya]

Re: Blackamoors

Aesthetically some of them can be very pleasing, like the last ones posted last. I think the problem for most of us is the underlying connotation of this 'art'...you know, the whole smiling servant bit.

[mountaingal]

Re: Blackamoors

the smiling servant motif may not be as negative when seen in context. its likely that black servants were relatively rare and therefore more valued in the household.




them being the subject of artwork - whether thru functional sculpture or in paintings - i think would uphold their role in a more positive way than negative.

[Nunya]

Re: Blackamoors

Nah... While they may have treated blacks better (and in some cases almost as equals during that time) I don't think that blacks saw being servants as a glorified post or something to have them grinning their heads off... - unless they were smiling for the simple reason of having a job on a different continent away from family, friends and the familiar...

In any event, whenever I see the statues (especially the lawn or floor ornaments), they just smack of Uncle Tom-ism to me...