Bag Item Number: Eg66 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Utility bag of printed mill cotton with self-covered hand straps. Made of sturdy undyed mill cloth, design printed in red. One side has a seated anthro-zoomorphic figure with head of elephant and body of man with four arms, each holding distinctive object. Mouse in front of figure. Lettering in an Indian script. On the reverse side is a seated human figure in ceremonial dress with four arms, one of which holds a spear. Peacock at the figure's left side. English inscription: 'Chithra Bag Works Madras-7.'
History Of Use
Most of small retail shops and stalls in the markets of India have small cotton shopping bags available for sale with their goods. These bags are most often stamped with the name of the shop or the manufacturer of the bag, and usually include religious pictures or trademark, addresses. Often written in English on side and Tamil (or other local language) on the reverse. These are seen commonly and used for all types of shopping.
Cultural Context
tourist art
Iconographic Meaning
Ganesh: first son of Shiva, 'bringer of good fortune', 'remover of obstacles' holding (in a clockwise direction) ankusha: elephant goad; laddhu: bowl of sweets; abhaya mudra: have no fear; parashu: an ax. He is seen with his vahana or vehicle, the rat. On reverse side is Murugan (Kartikai): second son of Shiva, god of war. Shown in Kumara stage as a young man holding his vajra (thunder bolt sceptre) and vel (spear). He is accompanied by his vahana (peacock). The Tamil words on first side say 'Chitra Bag Works, 12, Kutti Setti Tteru, Sinnai. (i.e. Madras).
Item History
- Made in Tamil Nadu, India
- 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
- Name
- Bag
- Identification Number
- Eg66
- Type of Item
- bag
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- machine woven and machine sewn
- Overall
- height 51.7 cm, width 32.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- South India
- 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
- Tamil Nadu, India
When
- Collection Date
- during 1976
- Ownership Date
- before December 2, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on December 2, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0411/0152