29 January 2013

Broc Troc - Josephine Baker


This is the Josephine Baker dummy on sale at the Broc Troc. As most people know, Josephine Baker was an amazing African American entertainer, somewhat risqué for the time, who spent much of her life in France. Take a look at her famous Banana Dance at the Folies Bergère, Paris on YouTube. She was also famous for adopting dozens of children and in fact ended her life in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, when she ran out of money and was given a house by Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly) and Prince Rainier. She is buried in the cemetery at Monaco.

Do look at Nathalie's beautiful photos of this particularly dummy in Avignon. 

As a friend commented at the Broc Troc, whilst she was a beautiful black woman she is made to appear whiter in these dummies - a symptom of the times.



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Voici le mannequin "Joséphine Baker" en vente au Troc Broc. Comme la plupart des gens le savent, Joséphine Baker était une  artiste afro-américaine  exceptionnelle, un peu osée pour l'époque, qui a passé une grande partie de sa vie en France. Donnez un coup d'oeil à sa célèbre "Banana Dance" (Folies Bergère Paris) sur YouTube. Elle était également connue pour avoir adopté des dizaines d'enfants et au final sa vie s'est achevée à Roquebrune-Cap-Martin alors qu'elle n'avait plus d'argent et qu'une maison lui avait été donnée par la Princesse Grace de Monaco (Grace Kelly) et par le Prince Rainier. Elle est enterrée au cimetière de Monaco.

Comme un ami l'a dit au Broc Troc, alors que c' était une belle femme noire, ces mannequins la font apparaitre plus blanche qu'elle n'était- un symptôme de l'époque.

4 comments:

  1. Bob would probably know that she is originally from St. Louis. Regarding skin color, which you commented upon, some believe and there is evidence that she is half white.

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  2. Uh, yeah, Dave, I was just going to say that. Born and raised in The Lou. She was better appreciated elsewhere.

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  3. I've seen similar dummies in Avignon. That makes me wonder if these are true originals or a re-edition. Doesn't seem right to see so many popping out everywhere at the same time...

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  4. Nathalie, the vendor bought up the left overs at a factory and then he goes around the fetes and markets selling them. Think he lives in the Var so he'd surely have got to Avignon.

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