Clay Images of West Bengal

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Calcutta Notes

Final layer of balu mati or sandy clay being added

21st September 1980

a.m.Kumartuli. P to rajbari. P's workshop. Durga images being made. I noticed for the first time that the first layer of entel mati is mixed with rice husks and then the balu mati. Also watched a head mould being affixed to the neck-no bandages, just done with entel. Stick through neck. the base kathamo for 2 images was being made out front by a carpenter.

At rajbari the place locked so we had to sit and talk. P told me that the temple at the top of the Central Avenue used to be surrounded by jungle. When the British cleared a space for the road they left it in the middle of the road-look at it.

The Gopinathji image is the one in the rajbari courtyard which I saw.

p.m.Kalighat. A small Jagaddhatri (1 1/2') said to be @ 8 years old was waiting for reparis-follow the repair process. I also noticed that one of the extremely large images had the Bangla style face on Durga but not quite, slightly different mouth and nose, the eyes were definitely Bangla style-ask who it's for.

24th September 1980 - Kumartuli

26th September 1980 - Victoria Memorial

27th September 1980 - Kalighat

28th September 1980 - Mecheda

29th September 1980 - Kalighat

30th September 1980 - Kumartuli and Kalighat

October 1980

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