Bronze Sculpture of an Elephant

View Similar Items

19th Century, A Pair of Antique Japanese Bronze Animal Elephants

A Pair of Chinese Ming Period Patinated Bronze Enameled Elephant Vases/Censors

Early 20th Century, Burmese Bronze Standing Elephant

An Exceptional Gilt-Bronze Dragon, Presumably Six Dynasties

19th Century, Antique Burmese Bronze Elephant Bell with Stand

Bronze Sculpture by Emmanuel Villanis

Antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Twin Handled Bronze Censer with Elephants Handles

20th C., A Set of Japanese Bronze Animal Sculptures of Mouse, Ram and Rabbit

Japanese Bronze of an Elephant

Sculpture of a Standing Buddha in Chased and Gilded Bronze, 18th Century.

Pair 19th Century Chinese Carved Zitan Elephants Bronze Cloisonné Palm Fans

Japanese bronze sculpture “Horse in reverence”, Showa era

1 of 5

Bronze Sculpture of an Elephant

About the Item

This legendary piece shows a king and his consort who reflect god like attributes on their journey from a spiritual war of epic proportions. We may infer from the signals the artist has given us, that this war is an ethereal war against the darkest recesses of the human mind and spirit. A battle to attain supernatural wisdom and harbor enlightenment for the mind and soul of mankind. The royal warriors sit astride a majestic sacred elephant which symbolizes royalty, wealth and great wisdom. Both the heroes and their guardians who guide the elephant carry symbols indicative of benevolence and the gods who engage in angry battle against demons. The smaller seated figure is sitting in the Virasana heroic position, with one leg bent up onto the seat while the other hangs straight back against the thigh. This position represents a god who has revealed himself as a hero in the battle against the demons. The Axe (Parashu) held by one of the guardians heralding the elephant is the weapon that conquers darkness and ignorance, and thus liberates man from all ties of worldly matters. It is a definitive characteristic of the war god Skanda. The Spear our primary hero holds raised in his right hand is also the weapon of the war god Skanda, traditionally symbolizing the invincible weapon of the creator of the universe. The bolt of Lightning, which the primary hero holds in his left hand, is the symbol of invulnerability and invincibility. As a weapon, it drives out and eliminates demons. Skanda is known as the great warrior-general of the Army of Light, leading spiritual aspirants to self-realization and victory over the dark forces, and he is traditionally depicted carrying a spear such as that held aloft by the central figure. Skanda represents man's highest evolutionary attainments and is also referred to as the "way that leads to wisdom". His birth and life are written in an epic poem dating from the 5th century A.D. Skanda is known to have arrived in Ceylon, when the region belonged to Lemuria, a vast continent that stretched from Madagascar to near Australia and included India and Ceylon. This territory was ruled by a titan who became the terror of the Celestials, and took form to live upon the Earth. In answer to their prayers, the god Skanda was incarnated as son of the supreme god Shiva. He led a mighty host to Ceylon. It is said that the sky and earth were confounded, the earth shaken at its foundation; such was the mighty uproar of this battle among the Gods. Skanda destroyed the titan with his lance, a symbol which typifies Skanda's energy of wisdom and which we see reflected in the hands of both the primary hero and that of the second footman. Originally the spear was the weapon of Indra, usually depicted as a sort of double edged dagger (which may also be reflected by the weapon held by our secondary hero). As a sword (“Khadga”) this becomes the symbol of wisdom, the battle against ignorance and the force of destruction and it complements the symbolism of the elephant. It is an object of reverence which brings luck. Indra was the king of all the gods and the god of natural elements. Traditionally depicted as riding upon the royal elephant, Indra fought against the demon of drought, and expelled him with his weapons: thunder and lightning. By bringing the rain, Indra thus saved the earth and all its inhabitants. Indra became the prototype for all lords, thus a king such as the one depicted here, could be called “Indra” or “lord of men”. As an important god in many Hindu mythological tales, he leads the gods who form and maintain Heaven and the elements and constantly wages war against the demons of the netherworlds, or those that oppose morality and dharma. Riding a large, white elephant, he fights in the timeless battle between good and evil. He holds the thunderbolt (and a bow), which signifies his status as the God of War. The legendary Indra lives in a set of heavenly worlds located on and above the clouds around Mt. Meru. These clouds are possibly alluded to by the decoration seen beneath the elephant. Deceased warriors go to his hall after death, as great kings and warriors enrich his court.

Dimensions:
Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)Width: 7.8 in (19.82 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Cast
Place of Origin:
Indonesia
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1800 AD-1900 AD
Condition:
Very Fine Condition.
Seller Location:
Beverly Hills, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: LO.12671stDibs: LU232335831073

Antique 19th Century Japanese Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, A Pair of Antique Japanese Bronze Animal Elephants

$1,560 Sale Price / set

20% Off

A Pair of Chinese Ming Period Patinated Bronze Enameled Elephant Vases/Censors

Located in New York, NY

A Pair of Chinese Ming Period Patinated Bronze Enameled Elephant Vases/Censors. The elephant has a Buddhistic caparisoned dress with pearl harness, tassels, and high-relief dragon p...

Category

Antique 1640s Chinese Ming Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

A Pair of Chinese Ming Period Patinated Bronze Enameled Elephant Vases/Censors

$28,850 / set

Early 20th Century, Burmese Bronze Standing Elephant

Located in Sampantawong, TH

Burmese bronze standing elephant with stand. Age: Burma, Early 20th Century Size: Height 15.5 C.M. / Width 11.5 C.M. / Length 18 C.M. (size excluding stand) Condition: Nice cond...

Category

Early 20th Century Burmese Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century, Burmese Bronze Standing Elephant

$464 Sale Price

20% Off

An Exceptional Gilt-Bronze Dragon, Presumably Six Dynasties

Located in seoul, KR

An art piece presumably from the Six Dynasties period in China, spanning from the 3rd to the 6th centuries. This era is known for its political fragmentation but also significant cul...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Hong Kong Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

An Exceptional Gilt-Bronze Dragon, Presumably Six Dynasties

$16,250 Sale Price

35% Off

19th Century, Antique Burmese Bronze Elephant Bell with Stand

Located in Sampantawong, TH

Burmese bronze elephant bell with stand. Age: Burma, 19th Century Size: Height 12.5 C.M. / Width 9 C.M. Size including stand: Height 23.5 C.M. Condition: Nice condition overall...

Category

Antique 19th Century Burmese Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, Antique Burmese Bronze Elephant Bell with Stand

$384 Sale Price

20% Off

Bronze Sculpture by Emmanuel Villanis

By Emmanuel Villanis

Located in Pasadena, TX

Emmanuel Villanis comes from a family of Italian origin. From 1861, his parents returned to Italy to settle in Piedmont. He had fled Italy because the war of independence broke out, under the threat of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1871, the artist enrolled at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin; he follows the teaching of the sculptor Odoardo Tabacchi (1831-1905). As soon as he finished his studies, his master encouraged him to exhibit: his bust Alda, for example, was presented in Milan in 1881. In 1885, Villanis moved to Montmartre, a district of Paris that he never left. The artist's fame is built on his production of female figures. Aida, Judith, Delilah, Lucretia, Cinderella: her work brings together the great heroines of opera, literature, mythology and the Bible. Villanis also discusses certain types - the Bohemian, the Châtelaine, or the Parisienne - and several allegories, including Painting and Sculpture. Made mainly in bronze, sometimes chryselephantine, his sculptures subtly bear the mark of Art Nouveau, including the lettering of the title, which regularly adorns the base. His play on the patinas further adds to the finesse of the line, making Villanis one of the major sculptors of Art Nouveau. Regarding the casting of bronzes, he worked mainly with the Société des Bronzes de Paris and with Eugène...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Art Nouveau Antiquities

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Sculpture by Emmanuel Villanis

$3,920 Sale Price

20% Off