Indian Figure - Portuguese Half-Caste Table Servant, Poona, Clay, circa 1867

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Summary:: Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Portuguese half-caste table servant 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 records identify the figure as a 'Portugese Half-Caste Table Servant'.
Description:: Figure of a man on a wooden base. The base is painted black turned wood. A paper label is glued to the upper side of the base. The figure is plaster/composition modeled over wooden dowels, it is painted with a dark brown skin tone and dressed in fabric. His garments consist of a blue and white patterned top, a red waist sash, and white shorts. He has a painted red hat.
Acquisition Information:: Donation (Probable) from Exhibition: 1880 International, Melbourne, 1880

Discipline:	Technology
Dimensions:	13 cm (Height), 7 cm (Width)

Tagged with:	museum history, handcrafts, indigenous cultures, sculpture
Themes this item is part of:	Clay Modelling in India, Poona (Poonah/Pune) Clay Modelling, Royal Exhibition Building Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	MUSEUM HISTORY
Secondary Classification:	Affiliated Institutions
Tertiary Classification:	exhibition heritage
Inscriptions:	Printed in black ink on paper label: 60
Place & Date Made:	Pune, Maharashtra, India, circa 1867 NGV Stockbook gives date range.