Please complete the form to email this item.

Model figure

Model figure

  • Place of origin:

    Krishnagar, India (possibly, made)

  • Date:

    19th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Clay, modelled and painted, with fibre

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Mailey-Claire Danks-Flower

  • Museum number:

    IS.62-2006

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Image unavailable

This figure is one of many such clay models made in India in the 19th century. They were intended to represent different Indian occupations or caste ‘types’ and aimed to illustrate the ‘peoples of India’. These small clay figurines were produced in various cities in India including Lucknow, Krishnagar, Calcutta and Pune and sold to visiting Europeans. Groups of them were also displayed in many of the international exhibitions of the period.

Physical description

This model is wearing a red shirt with white dots. He has a patterned lungi on and a red faded turban. His arms and mouth are modelled to look as if he is playing a musical instrument, which suggests that he could be a snake charmer. The instrument is no longer with the figure. He has a fibre moustache (only half still exists) and his facial features and his finger nails have been painted on. This is a realistic figure.

Place of Origin

Krishnagar, India (possibly, made)

Date

19th century (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Clay, modelled and painted, with fibre

Dimensions

Height: 13.2 cm

Descriptive line

Model figure, man in red shirt with white dots and red turban, perhaps playing an instrument (missing), possibly Krishnagar, 19th century.

Production Note

According to T.N. Mukherjee, such realistic models were a feature of the model makers at Krishnagar, a town near Calcutta. See T.N. Mukherjee, Art Manufactures of India, pg, 59.

Materials

Clay

Techniques

Modelling (forming)

Categories

Sculpture; Figures & Decorative ceramics

Collection code

SSEA

Qr_O129629
Ajax-loader