2405:201:4006:CF2A:58DD:9F3:A226:E347 at 08:24, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T08:24:15Z

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{{short description|Historic fountain in Mumbai, India}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Mahatma Phule Market Fountain
| native_name =
| native_language =
| image = File:Old fountain in Crawford Market.jpg
| caption = The historic fountain is in poor condition and often encroached upon, even after restoration efforts
| type =
| coordinates = {{Coord|18.947414|N|72.834710|E|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = India Mumbai#India
| location = Mahatma Phule Market
| area = [[South Mumbai]]
| built = 1874
| architect = [[William Emerson (British architect)|William Emerson]]
| architecture = A mix of [[Greek Revival]] and [[Neo-Gothic]]
| governing_body =
| owner =
}}

'''Crawford Market Fountain''' or '''Lockwood Kipling Fountain''' is a listed [[Heritage structures in Mumbai|heritage structure]] in [[Crawford Market]], [[Mumbai]] that was erected in 1874, and was designed by [[William Emerson (British architect)|William Emerson]], the British architect who also designed the market. The style is a mix of [[Greek Revival]] and [[Neo-Gothic]], and the four carvings depicting the Indian river goddesses and native birds were done by [[John Lockwood Kipling]] (father of novelist [[Rudyard Kipling]]), who was the principal at [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/emerson/4.html|title=Crawford Market Fountain, Mumbai, by Sir William Emerson|website=www.victorianweb.org}}</ref>

Originally, it was located in a garden courtyard setting and was meant to serve as a social space for merchants. The uncontrolled proliferation of shops around it led to a drastic change in setting, and today
vegetable and fruit sellers often set up their stalls around it or use the structure to temporarily store their wares.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/in-search-of-the-kipling-connection/article22387367.ece|title=In search of the Kipling connection|first=Rana|last=Safvi|date=January 7, 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

In 1985, the crown of the fountain was damaged when a canopy was being raised over it. The Kipling river goddesses frieze was also painted over by someone with the intention to restore their "modesty", as claimed in a note left by the conscientious painter on the fountain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/how-abha-narain-lambah-restored-some-of-mumbais-crawford-market/articleshow/51849360.cms?from=mdr|title=How Abha Narain Lambah restored some of Mumbai’s Crawford market|first=Vikram|last=Doctor|date=April 16, 2016|via=The Economic Times}}</ref> In 2016-17, as part of a larger project, restoration work was carried out on the fountain by a team led by conservation architect [[Abha Narain Lambah]], but thereafter the structure continued to be used as a mini warehouse or a dumping site for plastic bags, water bottles or garbage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/crawford-markets-fountaion-restoration-coming-apart-due-to-apathy/19886178|title=Crawford Market's fountain restoration coming apart due to apathy|date=October 13, 2018|website=mid-day}}</ref>

[[File:Pineapple Stall and Fountain (14671387381).jpg|thumb|200px|left|Fruit stalls around the fountain.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fountains in Mumbai]]
[[Category:1874 sculptures]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1874]]
[[Category:Stone sculptures]]
[[Category:Drinking fountains]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in India]]

Crawford Market Fountain - Revision history

2405:201:4006:CF2A:58DD:9F3:A226:E347 at 08:24, 26 May 2021