Item ST 39956 Indian Figure - Ghorawalla, Pune, Clay, circa 1867

Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Ghorawalla 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. The NGV Stock book describes the figure as a 'Ghorawalla (Groom from Ghora (Horse))'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a turned wooden base, painted orange-brown. 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 medium brown skin tone and is dressed in fabric. His garments consist of a blue tunic with red cotton trim, a red cotton sash and white cotton trousers. He wears a red and black painted hat and red painted shoes. He is holding a white cotton handkerchief in his right hand.