Item ST 39951 Indian Figure - Portuguese Table Servant, Pune, Clay, circa 1867

Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Portuguese table servant was part of a series of 82 Indian clay figures purchased from Stubb and Co for £9.10 in 1867 by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The group of figures, which came from Pune (Poonah), represented various castes, occupations and religious sects in India.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is painted black 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 dressed in fabric. His garments consist of a blue and white patterned top, a red waist sash, and white shorts. He has a painted red hat.