Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of gentleman in a horse drawn carriage was made in Lucknow, 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. This group was awarded a Third Order of Merit and was exhibited 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 Stock book identifies the figure as 'Gentleman seated in Carriage drawn by a Horse'.

Physical Description

Horse and carriage with a passenger and driver on a rectangular stand, made from fired clay, modeled over a ferrous metal armature with a painted surface. A paper label is glued to the upper side of the base. The horse is painted a chestnut brown, with a darker mane and tail, while the driver has a dark brown skin tone as is dressed in a white turban and tunic and brown pants. The canopy for the carriage is painted red with a gold trim.

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