Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Nautch girl 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. It was gifted to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) by the India Commission of the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-81. The NGV Stockbook records identify the figure as a 'Nautch Girl'. Nautch is a popular dance style from the North of India. It is performed by young girls called 'Nautch Girls'.

Physical Description

Figure of a woman 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 dressed in fabric. The figure's garments consist of a red blouse, a scarf of silver and gold thread wrapped around her waist and shoulders, and red trousers. The object is damaged and dirty and the textiles are dirty and faded.

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