Plate 97:  Creating boxes for unboxed items, Part 10: twenty-one soldiers of the British Indian Army
(This plate added AUG 2004)

The white facial-tissue wrappings have been removed from the items that were seen spilling from a paper bag in Plate 96. Arrayed in ranks and files, we now see twenty-one cast metal soldiers of the British Indian Army. The twenty-one soldiers in this display appear to represent two different military units. --more--

At the left of the formation are six soldiers who are uniformed in what appear to be knee-length loose-skirted coats tied with green sashes at the waist. These long coats resemble the traditional Indian garment known as a kurta. The Collector regrets that one of the long-coated soldiers has lost his lower legs (temporarily, we devoutly hope), but the man has nonetheless bravely joined his formation in a supine position of honor at the front. The fourteen soldiers at the right are uniformed in short tunics in the British Army style. The soldiers with the green sashes (at the left), are led by a figure who is probably an officer, judging from the fact that he is armed with a sword instead of a rifle, and also that he appears to be wearing large green epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pads). The officer is not uniformed in a kurta-style coat, but instead wears a short British-style military tunic. The soldiers in the right-hand formation are not accompanied by an officer of their unit. Go to top of page