Musician’s stool
This stool is a rare surviving example of a chair used by a performer in stage productions. It belonged to Dan Emmet, a banjo player who was a prominent figure in the minstrel era. The minstrel show was a derogatory genre that White Americans created and popularized during the middle of the nineteenth century that mimicked and degraded Black people. It was based on stereotypes and caricatures. Minstrel music was incredibly popular across the country and spread internationally. It was the first instance of the appropriation of Black culture by White musicians in the United States and set a precedent that would be repeated with later musical genres.
Artwork Details
- Title: Musician’s stool
- Period: mid-19th Century
- Date: mid-19th Century
- Geography: United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Various woods
- Dimensions: 45-1/2” H x14-1/2” W x 14” D
- Classification: Musical instruments
- Credit Line: Peter Szego, 2024
- Object Number: 2024.607.7
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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