Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Doll

c.1867 (made)
Place of origin

Costume doll representing a mahajan (merchant) of Varanasi. Unidentified armature and stuffing covered in cotton cloth. Trousers of red cotton with floral patterns in yellow, blue, white, green and pink woven in floss silk, trimmed with gota and metal strip. Robe (jama) of yellow woven silk and silver strip with brocaded medallions in metal-wrapped thread, trimmed with folded and flat silver ribbon (gota) and metal-wrapped thread, and 'fastened' with pointed gota decorative ties. Waist sash (kamarband) of coiled green silk and silver ribbon (gota). Hat of red silk decorated with metal strip and sequins, with triangular panels of green silk with trident design in coiled metal and sequins. Embroidered eyes, eyebrows, mustache, mouth and tilak. Hair of cotton thread. One earring with green glass bead on metal wire threaded through left ear. Remains of adhesive on hands indicating missing rings. Fingers and toes tipped with red fabric.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Costume doll representing a mahajan (merchant) of Varanasi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, c.1867; Dolls; Textiles
Physical description
Costume doll representing a mahajan (merchant) of Varanasi. Unidentified armature and stuffing covered in cotton cloth. Trousers of red cotton with floral patterns in yellow, blue, white, green and pink woven in floss silk, trimmed with gota and metal strip. Robe (jama) of yellow woven silk and silver strip with brocaded medallions in metal-wrapped thread, trimmed with folded and flat silver ribbon (gota) and metal-wrapped thread, and 'fastened' with pointed gota decorative ties. Waist sash (kamarband) of coiled green silk and silver ribbon (gota). Hat of red silk decorated with metal strip and sequins, with triangular panels of green silk with trident design in coiled metal and sequins. Embroidered eyes, eyebrows, mustache, mouth and tilak. Hair of cotton thread. One earring with green glass bead on metal wire threaded through left ear. Remains of adhesive on hands indicating missing rings. Fingers and toes tipped with red fabric.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33cm
  • Width: 17cm
Object history
Transferred form the India Museum in 1879. Slip book entry 5845: 'Doll, dressed / Benares, Bengal / Price Rs. 10 / 1867 / 4273 / dressed in the costume of a Mahajun of Benares.'
Associated objects
Other number
5845 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
6858(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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