Item ST 39957 Indian Figure - Banian Merchant, Pune, Clay, circa 1867

Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Banian Merchant 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 identifies the figure as a 'Banian Merchant (Northern India)'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is turned wood painted orange-brown. A paper label is glued to the upper surface of the base. The figure is plaster/composition modeled over wooden dowels, which are attached to the base, through his legs. It is painted with a terracotta skin tone and dressed in fabric. His garments comprise a shirt and tunic of white cotton, and white cotton trousers with edge strips of red and white cotton. He wears a painted red pointed hat and black shoes.