Summary
Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure
This clay figure of a Hindu writer 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 'Hindoo Writer'.
Physical Description
Figure of a man 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 is dressed in fabric. His garments consist of a a red coat, black belt, white trousers, and a brown bag slung across his right shoulder. He has a painted red hat and red shoes.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Donation (Probable) from Exhibition: 1880 International, Melbourne, 1880
-
Place & Date Made
Pune, Maharashtra, India, circa 1880
NGV Stockbook gives date range. -
Inscriptions
Printed in black ink on a paper label glued to the upper side of the base: 150 Handwritten in pencil on the underside of the base: 59
-
Classification
Public events, Melbourne international exhibition 1880, Exhibition heritage
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Overall Dimensions
7.5 cm (Width), 19.5 cm (Height)
-
Keywords
Artistic Practices, Artists, Crafts, Dolls, Exhibitions: Melbourne International, 1880-1881, Modelmaking, Religions: Hinduism