Doll Item Number: Ef234 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A small clay figure painted red with a simple modelled form. Head is with a pinched face that has black dot eyes. Knot of black hair at the top back. Female torso with a minimum suggestion of arms.
History Of Use
Bengali potters of the (Kumara) Kumbhakara caste are heirs to a long tradition in village and urban areas. Production of clay pots and vessels for everyday use is their regular occupation. However, images for votive offerings are also important and are variously represented as fertility figures, protective symbols (horses, elephants), or gods. The animal and human figures sold as toys have a close affinity in shape and character to the votive images. In fact, the same image often fulfills both purposes.
Iconographic Meaning
Bird-mother motif. Ancient image associated with theriomorphic figures of ancestral bird deities.
Cultural Context
toy
Item History
- Made in Aranghata, West Bengal, India before 1976
- Collected during 1976
- Owned by Stephen Inglis before December 2, 1977
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) and Stephen Inglis (Seller) on December 2, 1977
What
Who
- Culture
- Bengali
- Previous Owner
- Stephen Inglis
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) and Stephen Inglis (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Aranghata, West Bengal, India
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Collection Date
- during 1976
- Ownership Date
- before December 2, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on December 2, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- ceramics
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0411/0032