Box of ‘Samoa-Veilchen’ (Samoan violets)

The process of anchoring the colonial project in the minds of broad segments of the population had begun early on by means of colonial exhibitions, shows displaying indigenous peoples, shops with colonial wares, magazines and colonial novels, but also existed in a longing and desire for colonies, in exoticism and in fantasies of subjugation.

The package bearing the label ‘Samoa-Veilchen’ (Samoan violets) probably served to hold soap bar(s) and was sold in shops specialising in colonial wares. Wrappers for ‘colonial wares’ used images of exotic tranquillity to paint a positive picture of the division of labour in the colonies, while at the same time propagating racist stereotypes. Advertising and product design carried the motifs of colonial conquest into the private sphere of people’s homes.