This wonderfully shaped with some aesthetic fissures, oval metal face mould shows a portrait of Nangama, a woman belonging to the Pahari tribe of Chamba-a land steeped in history in the Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh. The entire casting- i.e. the frame and the face-were cast together, indicating a seamless technique, which reflects the great degree of competence attained by traditional metal artisans of these localities. Engraved in delicate letters at the top of the mould are both the names of Nangama and her hometown, Chamba. Hence, it is not just a representation of Nangama, but a personalized commemoration.
The Pahari community, being one of the most recognizable groups in the northern Indian hills, is one with an enormous cultural ethos. The community has old traditions of valor, land tenure, and artistic patronage, particularly in miniature paintings, architecture, and metalwork. Artefacts such as this mould may have had some commemoration purpose, probably to pay homage to elders or significant women of families or communities. The delicate features of Nangama immortalized in metal portray an image of both esteem and veneration, whereas this mould might have been enshrined in a household shrine or might have existed as a family relic. Currently housed in the Indian museum, Kolkata, this cast provides insight into the ancestral worship practices and fine aesthetic sensibilites of the Paharis.