Made by native craftsmen in Bengal, an area where figurative modelling flourished from the early 18th century, these naturalistically modelled figures are representative of those employed by European colonials. Commissioned groups of figures depicting types of occupation or caste were a common cultural expression of a more widespread imperial endeavour to classify the Indian people, and, as well as being obtained as souvenirs, they were often acquired by museums for educational purposes.(See Below Stairs Exhibition Catalogue, London, 2003, p.148.)
These figures appeared in 'The Golden Bowl' (2001) and were in the 'Indian Corner' of the London flat of the Assinghams, played by Angelica Huston and James Fox.