Glass mug painted with a Jewish man dancing with a pig

Frosted glass mug with a painted depiction of a Jewish man dancing with a pig holding money bags, which is a combination of several antisemitic tropes. The man is obese, has a beard, and a large nose: three stereotypical physical features commonly attributed to Jewish men. Pigs are deemed “unclean” in the Book of Leviticus, and are well-known as a non-kosher animal, meaning they are not fit for consumption by Jews. Knowing of this prohibition, antisemites weaponized pigs for use against Jews, accusing them of associating with and worshiping pigs. The depiction of Jews with pig-like features, or in close and often indecent contact with pigs, is a common antisemitic image. The moneybags held by the pig show the perceived association of Jews and greed. This stereotype originated from the economic and professional restrictions placed on early European Jews, which restricted them to occupations such as money changing or money lending. Additionally, medieval religious belief held that charging interest (known as usury) was sinful, and the Jews who occupied these professions were looked down upon, predominantly by European Christians. The text under the image uses the name “Kleinen Cohn” (sometimes “Kleine Cohn” or “Kohn”) meaning Little Cohn, which was a pejorative term for Jews used in Germany around the turn of the 20th century. The term is thought to have originated in an 1893 German military pamphlet. It was popularized after German humorist, Guido Thielscher, sang a satirical song about the character in 1902, and quickly became ubiquitous in Germany. The term, often accompanied by antisemitic images of Jews, was featured on postcards and other ephemera throughout the first decades of the 20th century. This mug is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic visual materials.