Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Dancing Bear 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 a 'Mahomedan Itinerant Showman & Dancing Bear'.

Physical Description

Figure of a bear on a rectangular turned wooden base that is covered with red paper. A paper label is glued to the upper surface of the base. The animal is plaster/composition with a painted surface (brown or black) modeled over wooden dowels. The animal's body is covered with a fine brown hair, which has been glued to the surface, it is wearing a brown textile collar and has a piece of string tied around its neck. A second figure was originally attached to the base but this is now missing leaving two holes.

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