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Antique Indian wooden elephant figurine/carved animal/circa 1920

About the Item

I purchased this item directly. The purchaser said that it belonged to his late grandfather. His grandfather served as a marine from World War I to World War II, and apparently purchased this wooden elephant as a souvenir when he visited India aboard the Akagi battleship around 1920. The tusks are broken and missing, but there are no other major defects. Unlike the cute elephant souvenirs made today, this is an attractive sculpture that exudes strength. The king of animals quietly steps on the earth. In India, elephants have been sacred and respected since ancient times, and are said to have exerted their power in transportation and war. This sculpture, which seems to be imbued with such meaning, still exudes charm even after more than 100 years. The square base of this item is thought to have been prepared by the grandfather. There is something that resembles a name written on the back of the base, but it is faded and cannot be deciphered. It seems that the owner treasured it enough to have a base. I don't know what kind of wood the elephant is made of, but it is very heavy. The base seems to be made of oak or similar material. I would be grateful if anyone who purchases this item will cherish it and display it while remembering the story behind it. It is unlikely that the same item will be available in the future. A highly rare item. Weight: 2.85 kg We mainly sell old Japanese items, but also items from around the world. We have seen tens of thousands of items so far. Using that experience, we list appealing items here. This is something we can do because of our long experience. If you are looking for something special, we encourage you to purchase it on our site.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.42 in (29 cm)Width: 9.38 in (23.8 cm)Depth: 4.65 in (11.8 cm)
  • Style:
    Taisho (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1920
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Sammu-shi, JP
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5487243762782

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