South Asian Carved And Stained Bone Mosaic Ceremonial Elephant, 20th Centur

Ceremonial elephant sculpture made in marquetry of carved, engraved and tinted bone plates, assembled on a wooden core. The animal is represented standing, its trunk raised in salute, adorned with a rich ceremonial caparison with engraved decoration of geometric friezes, fringes and a central panel representing a character (deity or musician). The head and rump are decorated with floral medallions applied in relief and tinted with polychrome highlights (green and red).
Work from South Asia (probably India or China). 20th century period.
Height: 31.5 cm Width: 32 cm
Good condition
This sculpture is part of the long tradition of Asian artistic craftsmanship, and more particularly of prestigious decorative pieces made from bovine bone, developed as a virtuous and technical alternative to working with ivory. The method is based on the careful adjustment of dozens of fine bone tablets, patiently engraved and then fixed on an internal carved wooden structure. The elephant, symbol of wisdom, strength and good fortune, is depicted here in its princely festive attributes, recalling the splendor of the royal processions of South Asia. The graphic treatment of the ink engravings and the relief inlays demonstrate a know-how of decorative patience particularly sought after for cabinet objects of curiosities in the 20th century.
Our object is part of the lineage of beautifully crafted ethnic art and furnishing objects, offering a very fine example of bone marquetry assembly with traditional engraved decoration.