Item ST 39948 Indian Figure - Woman from the Mercantile Class, Pune, Clay, circa 1880

Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a woman from the Mercantile class was made in Pune (Poona), 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 Stock book records identify the figure as a 'Woman from the Merchantile Class'.

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. Her garments consist of a red and white cotton blouse and a white cotton sari with red and brown trim. She is holding a gold jar or pot under her left arm.