RARE LATE 19TH-EARLY 20TH CENTURY ANTIQUE FAIRBANKS'GOLD DUST TWINS' WASHING POWDER SOAP WOODEN BOX CRATE, W/GRAPHIC ICONOGRAPHY STAMPED IN BLACK INK ON SIDEWALLS, BLACK AMERICANA. Chicago, Illinois, New Orleans, New York, Montreal. 27" Length x 12" Height x 19 ½ Depth.
This extraordinarily rare intact, large and in just absolutely wonderfully well-preserved overall vintage condition Fairbank's Gold Dust Washing Powder wooden box crate, features black ink stamped graphic Black Americana iconography on every side, with the two short sidewalls featuring the Fairbank's brand label and two Black youths with their arms around each other over the Gold Dust logo. The long sidewalls of the box feature the two Black youths or the'Gold Dust Twins' washing clothes and then looking at themselves in the mirror wearing them after having cleaned them.
The corners are nailed and reinforced with vertical wood strips, designed for the large box to fully support the weight of its boxed powdered contents. The box was only gently dusted off with a fine sable brush to remove surface dust and lightly patted down with a damp cotton cloth. No oils or varnishes have been previously used to seal the wood. It remains untouched and in its original dry finish. Of course, the message of the stamped graphic iconography is thoroughly steeped in racist late 19th-early 20th century American racially insensitive humor, referencing Black slavery with the motto'Let the Gold Dust Twins do your work. Clearly the message implies that the cleaning powder will wash your clothes but the reference to Black slavery and of servitude to whites and making white lives easier, is clearly referenced. However uncomfortable the racist iconography and message of the early advertising may be to some, it is nevertheless an honest representation of the blatant and insidious racism that persisted in post Civil War America, right up into the 20th century. This wooden box crate is then more than merely a decorative piece for display above one's kitchen cabinets, it's a cultural artifact and an incredibly rare one, considering the box is large, complete and its stamped graphics and lettering, nearly undisturbed and clear, after well over one-hundred and twenty years. You will look long and hard before you find a wooden box crate in the same condition and as intact as this particular Fairbank's Gold Dust Twins Washing Powder Soap early 20th century American piece of advertising. Much more than merely a vintage soap box, this is a cultural relic, racist American artifact and a reminder of who we were as Americans and clearly, how far we've come. Very Good to Excellent overall vintage condition. Please scroll down to view enlarged photos below. The item "RARE EARLY BLACK AMERICANA GOLD DUST TWINS WASHING POWDER SOAP WOOD BOX CRATE" is in sale since Tuesday, May 15, 2018.This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Black Americana\Other Black Americana". The seller is "modsanctuary" and is located in Milford, New Hampshire. This item can be shipped to United States. Fairbank's Company