Not currently on display at the V&A

A ceremonial barge

Model
mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
West Bengal (made)

A finely carved ivory model of a boat, with eight pairs of oarsmen and other standing figures, a person keeping the rhythm of rowing and the head of the boat ('majhi') at the stern. Also includes a seated figure of the pasenger. The boat has a makara-head at its prow and a gryphon at its stern.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
SCRAN
India Museum
Object type
Model
TitleA ceremonial barge (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Model of a state barge with rowers in carved ivory.; Sculpture, ivory, carved
Physical description
A finely carved ivory model of a boat, with eight pairs of oarsmen and other standing figures, a person keeping the rhythm of rowing and the head of the boat ('majhi') at the stern. Also includes a seated figure of the pasenger. The boat has a makara-head at its prow and a gryphon at its stern.
Dimensions
  • Length: 50.5cm
  • Height: 15cm
Object history
Probably acquired from the Exposition Universelle in Paris, 1855.
Berhampur in Murshidabad District was a major centre for ivory carving.
Historical context
Although boats decorated with fanciful animals and fish were used on the Ganges, it seems likely that this is a purely imaginary boat.
Production
Probably made in Berhampur
Subjects depicted
Boat
Figures
Bibliographic references
  • Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) : p.75
  • Das, N. and Llewellyn-Jones, R. (eds.). Murshidabad: Forgotten Capital of Bengal, ISBN 978-81-921106-9-1. Marg, Mumbai, 2013. ISBN 978-81-921106-9-1. p. 129, pl. 8
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
02419(IS)

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Record createdJuly 31, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83032/a-ceremonial-barge-model-unknown/
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