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Antique Cast Bronze Elephant Temple Toy on Wheels

Antique Cast Bronze Elephant Temple Toy on Wheels

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Antique Cast Bronze Elephant Temple Toy on Wheels

About the Item

Antique Indian cast metal brass elephant temple toy on wheels. Commonly known as "Temple Toys" mainly used as devotional donations for Khanodba and Shiva in Central India, as well as Ayyannar and Karuppan in Tamil Nadu. Since ancient times, a person was held in high esteem for the donation of a horse or other animal to one of the Gods. It was believe that these bronze figures allowed the God to come to the aid of the devotee in times of need. These figures would be left as offerings in a nearby temple, where children would often find them and use them as toys; hence the name "Temple Toy." Elephant toys and other animals on wheels were also a great gifts for kids in religious traditions. Created with the traditional technique of the lost-wax that allows a great precision and finesse in the details, this brass sculpture charms is with its exquisite depiction of a ceremonial Asian elephant. Heavy metal presents striking detail and cool brass tones with a hint of natural bronze. Raising its trunk down, the elephant will grace any desk as a paperweight or display case. This is a delightful vintage elephant statue, with a striking pose. In Asian culture elephants bring good luck and good health with trunk down. Cast with fine details and finished displaying a desirable aged patina throughout. Circa 1920's, Unmarked. Dimensions: 5" long, 6" tall, 4" wide About Elephants: Elephant, the glory of the Indian forest, has been transformed here into a toy with wheels on its four legs, obviously for a baby prince or for a highly artistic and lavish drawing-room. A kind of royal grandeur, such as has remained associated with royal elephants that kings and emperors rode ever since the epic days. India has elephant's longest past and largest number exceeds at present eighteen thousand. World's forests have broadly surviving now just two elephant species, the African and Asiatic. The Asian elephant is known as Elephas maximus and is found, besides India, also in Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Srilanka. As compared to African type, Asian elephant has smaller ears, more domed head, just one finger at the tip of his trunk and four toes in his hind legs. Only the male of this variety has two tusks. The female has just one, though the African female has two alike. In India elephant has a significant mythology as well as a long past of working relationship with man. Elephant mythology is quite queer and interesting. Elephant has always been considered as the most auspicious of all animals. For the beheaded torso of Lord Ganesha, the god of auspicies, the elephant head was considered as the best substitute. Indra, the lord of gods, rode Eravata, an elephant, and just before Trishala gave birth to Lord Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara, and Mayadevi to Lord Buddha it was an elephant or an elephant baby that appeared in their dreams. Elephant is pure vegetarian. Hence, Jains adopted the animal for a number of their rituals. The forces of Porus advancing against Alexander in B.C.323 were led by his war-elephants and Alexander's forces had been bewitched for sometime. This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

Dimensions:
Height: 6 in (15.24 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass,Bronze,Metal,Cast
Place of Origin:
India
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1920
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. good.
Seller Location:
North Hollywood, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: BE14221stDibs: LU906831312552

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