The largest South Asian ivory object in LACMA’s collection—utilizing an entire tusk plus additional segments—is a model of a royal pleasure boat mounted on a display stand. It was made in the late 19th century in Murshidabad, the principal Bengali center of ivory carving. Called "peacock barges" (mayūra-pankhī or morpankhī) because the bow is shaped like a peacock, royal pleasure boats were particularly enjoyed by Siraj ud-Daulah, the governor of Bengal (r. 1756–57), and his guests during festivals on the Ganges river. Ivory models of varying sizes depict these elaborate barges in detail, and they typically feature one or two covered pavilions in the forward section for entertainers and a communal hookah. A number of servants are often in attendance, including one responsible for pulling the cord of the swinging ceiling fan. In the stern are several pairs of rowers and a helmsman.
Intriguingly, these boats could be customized for a Hindu clientele by replacing the fan servant with a small shrine of the Hindu goddess Durga slaying the Buffalo Demon. Once graced with the divine image, the boats would be suitable for ritual immersion during the annual Durga Puja festival. This dual use is evident by the shallow, recessed rectangle in the LACMA boat, exactly where a Durga shrine could be added; there is no other apparent purpose for this prominently indented area. Other religious configuration variables include interchangeable finials and pendants.
