BENGAL, 19TH CENTURY

Made by native craftsmen in Bengal, an area where figurative clay modelling flourished from the early 18th century, these naturalistically modelled figures are representative of the order of traditional society. 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. For a further discussion on the subject, see, National Portrait Gallery, London, Below Stairs Exhibition, 16 October 2003 - 11 January 2004, p. 148.