Items Similar to Antique Thai Ceramic White War Elephant
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16
Antique Thai Ceramic White War Elephant
About the Item
Antique Thai Ceramic White War Elephant. A hand sculpted stoneware figure of elephant and rider. The solid elephant stands firmly four square on a rectangular slab base. The head is pointed forward with the trunk tucked in beneath the chin and the short pointed tusks forward in an attack position. The tail is long and and held against the back of the right hind leg. The elephant’s harness has large four prong fittings at each of the five crossover points. The carrying cage having balustrades with upturned base and railing ends sits squarely on the center of the elephant’s back. The upright figure sitting at the elephant’s neck with the feet tucked behind the harness fittings holds a long stick resting atop the elephant’s head. The stick is either a representation of a halberd or a rifle. The rider is costumed in a pointed crown helmet, thick rope collar and a knee length pant tied in the back of the waist. In other elephant and rider figures, the rider is a designated commander or king in battle. Alternatively, a mahout would sit in the same place, but with the feet around the elephants neck. The details are deftly painted iron brown and the overall piece including the top of the base are glazed in a thick white semitransparent glaze having a bluish flash and crazing to a fine crackle. White Elephants in Thailand are sacred and a symbol of royalty. There are several famous white elephants in Thai history along with their presence in the tales of Buddha and his previous lives. Thai royalty and elephants have established relationships over thousands of years. A sculpture such as this would have been made and kept honoring this relationship as a temple or sprit house offering. Other theories suggest that a ceramic elephant figure is an appropriate mount for a relic chamber which would be held in the carrying cradle on the back of the elephant and that the rite of pouring water over holy relics in order to purify and venerate is appropriate and conducive for a figure such as this.
Condition: Head of rider reattached otherwise remarkably fine condition. Two thick adhesive felt strips added to the unglazed underside of the base for safe tabletop viewing.
Dimensions: 12 inches high x 10.25 inches deep x 4.75 inches wide (30.5 x 26 x 12cm).
Weight: 6 lbs. - 7 oz. (2900grams).
Age: 19th century or possibly earlier.
Provenance:
A South Miami Estate
Akiba Galleries, Dania Beach FL, Picture Perfect 3.11.25 lot 127
For similar ceramic elephants see:
Roxanna M. Brown, The Ceramics of Southeast Asia: Their Dating and Identification, 1977, P. 160, Plate 35, fig. 121 (Bangkok National Museum).
Charles Nelson Spinks, The Ceramic Wares of Siam, The Siam Society, Bangkok 1965, pl. 40 & 41.
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Depth: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
- Style:Other (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Ceramic,Glazed
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th Century or earlier.
- Condition:Repaired: Head of rider reattached otherwise remarkably fine condition. Two thick adhesive felt strips added to the unglazed underside of the base for safe tabletop viewing. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Point Richmond, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: TM-UH901341stDibs: LU1778244174942
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1999
1stDibs seller since 2015
678 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Palm Springs, CA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllAntique Thai Makara Ceramic Roof Tile, Sukhothai, 15th century.
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Thai Architectural Ornament, Sukhothai kilns, 15th century.
A glazed hollow ceramic roof tile finial of the Naga/Makara Dragon design having a robust chest supported by front talons and his upright bearded head with open mouth bearing his pointed teeth, further decorated in iron brown under glaze painted highlights, covered in a cream white transparent glaze. From North-Central Thailand, Sukhothai Kingdom, a 15th century sculptural architectural ornament, high-fired glazed stoneware roof tile for decorating and elaborately embellishing the roof of a Thai temple, which was generally constructed of wood and therefore long perished, leaving the remains of the roof tiles, such as this finial. Later custom fitted teak rectangular base included.
Measuring: 17-3/8 in. high x 6-1/4 in. wide x 8 in. deep. (44 x 16 x 20.5cm)
Weight: 10 lb. 2 oz. (4600g.)
15th Century.
$4500.
Provenance:
with Peng Seng Antique Ltd., Bangkok 1993 (original receipt and certificate of antiquity).
William R. Appleby, New York
Doyle New York, Asian Works of Art September 21, 2020 lot #338.
For similar examples in Museum Collections see:
Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, accession no. C-1453.
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, accession no. 2001.2
Brooklyn Museum, accession no. 84.133.5
Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2019.570.0
National Gallery of Victoria. Melbourne accession no. AS86-1984.
The Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, accession no. BATEA 1138.
Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, accession no. EA1969.75
Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, 1990.184
For similar examples in publications see:
Siamese Pottery in Indonesia, Charles Nelson Spinks, The Siam Society, Bangkok, 1959, Fig. 1.
Ceramic Art of Southeast Asia, William Willets, The Southeast Asian...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Other Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Sawakhalok Celadon Bowl, Thailand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Sawakhalok Celadon Bowl, Thailand 14th/15th century.
A sturdily potted wheel thrown stoneware bowl with everted rim and flattened lip. The deep cavetto has an upper decorativ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Other Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic, Celadon
Antique ceramic covered box from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique ceramic covered box from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand of paneled globular form with a brown glazed flat top having incised bands around ...
Category
Antique 16th Century Thai Tribal Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Antique ceramic covered box from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique ceramic covered box from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand of squat globular persimmon form with pinched sepal ridge and curled stem finial top decorated in a caramel brown and translucent white glaze on the stoneware biscuit in a saw tooth design at the shoulder and foliate vine scroll pattern on the body, two incised bands near the foot with a trimmed countersunk unglazed base with traces of the pontil firing scar. The interior of the base with a thin translucent glaze the interior of the lid unglazed. Tight fit of top to bottom. Evidence of a repair to a large chip to the interior rim of the base and two further small chips unrestored, the top clean without any restorations, overall fine condition. Measuring 2-3/4 in. high x 4” in diameter. (7cm x 10.2cm)
Weight: 11 oz. (300g.)
14th/15th century.
Ex Collection: by descent, Don Christensen, Penang, Malaysia.
For similar examples see:
Siamese Pottery...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Folk Art Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Antique ceramic box with cover from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique ceramic box with cover from the Sawankhalok kilns, Thailand of shouldered globular form with a flat top having incised foliate vine plant d...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Tribal Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Thai Architectural Ornament, Sukhothai kilns, 15th century.
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Thai Architectural Ornament, Sukhothai kilns, 15th century. A glazed hollow ceramic roof tile finial of the Naga/Makara Dragon torso design supported by front talons and his ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Other Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
You May Also Like
Thai Ceramic Vase with White Glaze, Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
A ceramic vase from Thailand, with off-white glaze. Contemporary.
While the golden age of Thai ceramics ended around the 15-16th Centuries, local craftsmen perpetuated the art thro...
Category
1990s Thai Other Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
$816 Sale Price
20% Off
Ceramic Lamp, Thailand, 15th Century
Located in New York, NY
A stoneware lamp from Si Satchanalai, Thailand, 15th-16th Century.
Two-tiered round shape, glazed in earthly beige color, rustic appearance.
11 inches in diameter, 8 inches high. ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Other Ceramics
Materials
Stoneware
19th Century Ceramic Plate from Thailand
Located in New York, NY
A ceramic plate or bowl from the kilns of Sangkhalok, the old center of Thai ceramics during the Sukhotai period. Perfectly preserved. Signed at the bottom.
Category
Antique 1860s Thai Other Decorative Bowls
Materials
Ceramic
$1,218 Sale Price
35% Off
Antique Southeast Asian Ceramic Fish Bowl Thailand Sukhothai Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A shallow ceramic bowl from Sukhothai period of Thailand circa 14th-15th century. The dish was hand molded with a coarse pinkish clay and it has a...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Archaistic Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Ceramic Candle-Essence Burner, White, Thailand, 15th Century
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Exceptional candle-essence burner with a great patina.
Thailand, Sawankhalok, 15th century.
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Ceramic Shield Ornament from Thailand, Late 18th Century
Located in New York, NY
A shield-shaped architectural detail from Thailand, Late 18th Century.
Reclaimed from old constructions and preserved in time, these architectural details are a decorative staple in...
Category
Antique 1790s Thai Other Mounted Objects
Materials
Ceramic
$960 Sale Price
20% Off