Seldom found on today's Black Americana market, this piece comes out of a Long Island, New York, estate and was said to have been used in New York City area Black Minstrel Shows. The condition of the piece is quite remarkable given its 70+ years of age.

While the Black Minstrel Ukulele has long ago lost its strings, the FOLK ART quality painting to the front and back of the Uke is wonderful, with little paint wear! The front of the Uke is painted to resemble the stereotypical chicken, with the Uke neck top painted as the chicken’s head and Uke body, the chicken’s body featuring two yellow feet. A second chicken seated in its nest is painted on the Uke front around the sound opening.

The back of the Uke features hand-painted stereotypical watermelon and the title, “The FATTEST MINSTREL”.

The ukulele does not bear a maker's mark. It measures 21.5 inches long x 6.75 inches wide at its widest point. It is missing the string screws used to adjust string tension. The bow, amazingly, still has its original strings which are quite frayed.

The FOLK ART quality painting to the Black Minstrel Ukulele case cover is fabulous and also remains in extraordinarily good condition! The leatherette Uke case, measuring approximately 23 inches long x 7.5 inches wide at its widest point, is black on the exterior and is lined with a tan, checkered paper on the interior.

The Ukulele case cover is decorated with a wonderfully executed SORROWFUL, FAT BLACK FACE, hand-painted within a white halo-like circle, featuring red rimmed lips & a blue bow tie with white polka dots. The words "Amo's Jonah" are hand-painted in black letters bordered by red. Virtually no wear to the painted areas, but the case does have surface edge wear and “puncture wounds” here and there on both the cover and the case bottom.

This phenomenal piece of BLACK MEMORABILIA from the BLACK MINSTREL SHOW era remains a RARE & IMPORTANT collectible!