Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Bombay Fisherman was made in Calcutta or 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. Both Calcutta and Pune sent exhibits to the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition as part of the British India Court. The group from Calcutta, modelled by Gopal Chandra Pal, was awarded a Third Order of Merit. This figure 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 a 'Bombay Fisherman'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is painted brown turned wood. A paper label is glued to the upper side of the base. The figure is plaster/composition modeled over wooden dowels, it is painted with a dark brown skin tone and is dressed in fabric. His garments consist of a white and red loincloth.He has a painted red hat, and painted white markings on his chest and arms.

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