Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18

Martha J Cornwell American Arts & Crafts Glazed Terracotta Elephant Sculpture

About the Item

A fine early 20th century sculpture of an elephant. Attributed to Martha Jackson Cornwell. Depicting a stoutly modeled elephant on an integral plinth with a blanket draped across its back and an Indian headdress or harness across its forehead. Decorated in white, blue, and green glazes on a terracotta body and with inset beads or pearls to the elephant's head and forehead. Cornwell was a student of Kenyon Cox, Arthur Dow, and Augustus Saint Gaudens at the Art League in New York City at the end of the 19th Century. She was subsequently an assistant to St. Gaudens for a decade and a half on his Shaw Memorial in Boston. All in all, simply a wonderful, unique sculpture from one of America's important female sculptors of the early 20th Century! Date: Early 20th Century Overall Condition: It is in overall fair, as-pictured, used estate condition. Condition Details: With some losses to the blanket edges and the top of the elephant's shoulder, there are glaze pops & losses throughout, obvious oxidation (particularly visible on the white), some loss to the apparent cold-painted enamels in the harness, and chips & fritting to the edges. Otherwise, there are some fine & light surface scratches and other signs of expected light wear consistent with age. Maker: Martha J. Cornwell Marks: The base bears a antique label that reads "Miss Martha J. Cornwell / West Chester Penna. / an ineligible block of text followed by "$65". Measurements: Length: ca. 7 1/8 in. Width: ca. 3 1/8 in. Height: ca. 5 7/8 in. Items purchased from this dealer must delight you. Purchases may be returned for any reason for a period of 7 days.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5.88 in (14.94 cm)Width: 7.13 in (18.12 cm)Depth: 3.13 in (7.96 cm)
  • Style:
    Arts and Crafts (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Terracotta,Glazed
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Early 20th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. See description for condition details.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: DSA INV BR F231stDibs: LU1610233777662

More From This Seller

View All
"Recumbent Goat", a Red Painted Terracotta Sculpture by J Stephen Lewis, 1946
By J. Stephen Lewis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A recumbent goat sculpture in red painted terracotta pottery mounted on an integral wooden plinth. By J Stephen Lewis (1917-2017 Russian/US), a noted Philadelphia sculptor and tea...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Large Roycrofters American Arts & Crafts Quarter Sawn Oak Picture / Mirror Frame
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large Roycrofters frame. In mottled, quarter sawn oak. With old glass and an associated board backing. Perfect for an Arts & Crafts painting or print (or for use as a mirror). ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Paintings

Materials

Glass, Oak

When Bad Things Happen, A Terracotta Rabbit Sculpture by Darla Jackson, 2014
By Darla Jackson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Title: When Bad Things Happen. A unique black painted terracotta sculpture of a rabbit by Darla Jackson. Date: 2014. Length: ca. 8 in. Signed to the reverse with the arti...
Category

2010s American Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Unique Black Painted Terracotta Sculpture of a Hawk Skull by Darla Jackson, 2016
By Darla Jackson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Title: Untitled. A unique black painted terracotta sculpture of a hawk's skull by Darla Jackson. Date: 2016. Length: circa 4 in. Signed to the base D. Jackson. Darla J...
Category

2010s American Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Adolescent Turkey Bronze Sculpture by the American Animalier Albert Laessle
By Roman Bronze Works, Albert Laessle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare model of what we believe is an adolescent turkey by the important American Animalier Sculptor, Albert Laessle. The dynamically modeled young bird is straining to scratch ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

American Modernist Roman Bronze Works Sculpture of a Gazelle by Walter Rotan
By Roman Bronze Works, Walter Rotan
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A superb Modernist model of a Gazelle by Walter Rotan (1912-2001) with a very dark verdigris patina. Cast at the Roman Bronze Works in the 1930s or 1940s. The bronze is stamped Roman Bronze Corp. NY to the reverse and bears an integral signature in the plinth. Rotan was an important 20th century American sculptor. A student of Albert Laessle, Rotan's work is held in public and private collections throughout the country. During his lifetime, his work was exhibited in the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Art. A similar gazelle is incorporated into his sculpture installed at Brookgreen Gardens. References include Beartrice Gilman Proske's 1968 book...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

You May Also Like

American Arts & Crafts Sculpture of a Pelican, Circa 1910
Located in New York, NY
The unknown sculptor of this fine, gilded-mahogany pelican appears to have been influenced by the turn-of-the-century Symbolist movement in Europe. The breast feathers are subtly car...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modernist Off White Glazed Terracotta Elephant Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
This striking Mid-Century Modernist elephant sculpture, crafted in off-white glazed terra cotta, embodies the minimalist aesthetic of the 1970s. Its clean lines and simplified form r...
Category

Vintage 1970s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Hand Crafted Glazed Terracotta Bird
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
silhouette of bird apparently made of terracotta with enamel, simple and modern shape
Category

Vintage 1980s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Large Vintage Elephant Terracotta Sculpture
Located in Isle Sur Sorgue, FR
Unique large vintage elephant terracotta sculpture by a French Riviera artist.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

1960s French Terracotta Elephant Sculpture
Located in Antwerp, BE
A ceramic terracotta decoration from 1960s Italy in the shape of an white elephant. Can be used as a plant stand or side table as well as a chair. Weight 25 kg. Width 27.1" - 69 cm....
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Terracotta Sculpture of Elephants, circa 1960
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Terracotta sculpture of elephants circa 1960 dimensions : 47x12x24cm ref : price : 390€.
Category

Vintage 1960s Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Recently Viewed

View All