Anti-Semitic porcelain figurine 'Fagin' - a stereotypical Jewish figure with a bent back, a long shabby coat, and a distorted face. Design: John Aynsley, UK 1977.
The base on which the Jew stands is shaped in the form of Charles Dickens 'Oliver Twist' book. on the base spine the caption reads: DICKEN WORK at the top of the spine, and along the spine engraved the name FAGIN.
The figure of FAGIN presented as a Jewish criminal and leader of a group of pickpocket children is taken from the novel 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens [published in 1838], the stereotypical character appears in the book as a Jew in neglected clothing and messy hair. In the novel, FAGIN is most blatantly described as an evil villain and may be teaching children how to steal, and is often mentioned not by his first name, but by the nickname "the Jew".Although in his later years, Dickens was disturbed by the stereotypical image he created, following the sale of his house in London to the Jewish banker James David, and in later editions of the book many of the "Jewish" mentions omitted refer to the criminal FAGIN,
Nevertheless, the figure was accepted throughout Europe in various forms as a typical figure for the "jewish" crook and the thief.
Size: 25x10x13 cm. very good condition.
