An unusual mid 19th century sculpture of an elephant in unpolished teak, the standing male animal drawn from life with a chain around his chest and a rope around his neck, in a walking pose with his tail swatting his hind leg, trunk lowered and with bone (not ivory) tusks and toes. Indian, circa 1860.
Condition: Overall good, the piece is generally in good condition however there are losses to the feet and some to the ears, and there is a natural split in the wood visible when viewed facing left. That said this is a highly unusual and interesting piece, in original condition – in our opinion the piece has never been polished (nor should it be) and retains a lovely genuine feel. It’s also worth noting that the sculpture was made by someone who not only had seen Indian elephants, but was very familiar with them – there is a verisimilitude to the lines and the drawing which are usually absent in representations of exotic animals found in European art.
Dimensions:
Height = 49 cm (19”)
Width = 60 cm (24”)
Depth = 30 cm (12”)