Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of an Office Messenger was Pune, India. It was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880, as part of a group of figures representing various castes, occupations and religious sects in India. Pune sent exhibits to the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition as part of the British India Court. It was gifted to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) by the India Commission of the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-81. The NGV Stock book records identify the figure as 'Office Messenger (Peon)'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is painted brown turned wood. A paper label is glued to the base. The figure is plaster/composition modeled over wooden dowels, it is painted with a terracotta skin tone and is dressed in fabric. His garments consist of white coat and trousers, a red waist sash and red sash over his shoulder. He has a painted red turban. He is carrying a folded piece of paper in his left hand.

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