E1295: India- Clay Figurine, Chaprassi or Government Messenger

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E1295

Classification Category:

8:Communication Artifacts ➞ Art/Folk Art

Marks/Labels:

On the base on his left side is the word "Muslim," apparently written in pencil.
On the back of the base is the word "Bearer," also in pencil.
On the front of the base is "No India;" although it is hard to make out the first word.
On the bottom of the base is Ind 60-6 h in ink with a red diagonal line through it.
Also on the bottom is "gov't messenger Chaprassi," apparently in pencil.

Materials:

clay
fabric ➔ cloth
animal ➔ hair
binding agents ➔ joiners ➔ metal wire ➔ armature
colorant ➔ paint

Dimensions:

5.4 cm L
5.1 cm W
23.5 cm H

Provenance of Object:

Everett F. Penshorn donated the object to the Boston Children's Museum in 1960. In 2016 the Boston Children's Museum gifted the object to the Luther College Ethnographic Collection.

The object was part of a set of 15 figurines representing the peoples of India during the British Colonial rule. Figurines primarily of commoners and workers.

Ethnic Group:

Asian ➞ India

Production Date:

Prior to 1960

British Colonial rule in india ended in 1947

Source Locality:

India

Acquisition Date:

1960

Description:

Clay Figurine of Indian 'Chaprassi' or Government Messenger from British Colonial Period

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