Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Chinese man was made in 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. 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 'Chinese'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is turned wood painted red. A paper label is glued to the upper surface of the base. The man is plaster/composition modeled over wooden dowels, which are attached to the base through his legs. He is painted with a fair skin tone, and is dressed in fabric. He is dressed in a blue cotton tunic and trousers of white cotton, and holds a piece of red cloth in his left hand. He has a yellow painted hat, and painted black shoes.

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