The litter or Palanquin is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. Smaller litters may take the form of open chairs or beds carried by two or more carriers, some being enclosed for protection from the elements. Larger litters, for example those of the Chinese emperors, may resemble small rooms upon a platform borne upon the shoulders of a dozen or more people. To most efficiently carry a litter, porters either place the carrying poles directly upon their shoulders or use a yoke to transfer the load from the carrying poles to the shoulders. Attributed to: Chitarman (Indian, active about 1715–1760) Indian, Mughal Mughal period About 1730–40 Object Place: Northern India MEDIUM/TECHNIQUE Opaque watercolor and gold on paper DIMENSIONS Overall: 38.6 x 43.4cm (15 3/16 x 17 1/16in.) ACCESSION NUMBER 26.283 Asia CLASSIFICATIONS Paintings PROVENANCE 1926, sold by Ganeshi Lall and Son, Agra, India, to the MFA for $390. (Accession Date: December 2, 1926)

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