Pair of Sandalwood Elephants
Pair of sandalwood elephants, front three-quarter view
Front oblique view of the paired sandalwood elephants showing rounded body modeling, incised facial details, and age-darkened surfaces.
Name/Title
Pair of Sandalwood ElephantsEntry/Object ID
179Description
Summary Pair of small hand-carved sandalwood elephants produced in Karnataka, likely in the Mysore region, circa 1945. Executed with restrained modeling and minimal incised detail, the carvings reflect the long-standing South Indian domestic sandalwood tradition associated with both sensory appreciation and household display. Extensive wear to the tails and feet records decades of childhood handling and intergenerational domestic use. Originally belonging to the owner’s maternal grandmother and present in the owner’s maternal great-grandmother’s home, the elephants later migrated into Bangalore House, where they are now displayed on the Resilience Fireplace as biographical and familial anchors connected to maternal lineage, memory, and play. ⸻ Detailed The objects comprise a matched pair of small carved elephants executed in solid sandalwood. Each elephant is represented in standing posture with lowered head and gently curved trunk. The forms are compact and volumetric, emphasizing rounded mass over anatomical precision. Carving is economical but assured. Details are articulated through shallow incision rather than deep undercutting, particularly at the eyes, trunk folds, ears, shoulders, knees, and skin creases. The surfaces are softly modeled with transitions intentionally smoothed rather than sharply faceted. The sandalwood has darkened substantially with age and handling, developing a warm brown patina with localized surface sheen. Fine grain remains visible in select areas. Original fragrance is now greatly diminished, consistent with the age of the objects and prolonged exposure within a domestic environment. Both carvings exhibit extensive tactile wear resulting from repeated childhood handling and play. The tails show visible losses and abrasion, and the feet display edge wear and compression. Surface smoothing is especially pronounced on projecting forms and upper body contours. Despite these losses, the carvings remain structurally stable and retain strong sculptural legibility. The pair belonged originally to the owner’s maternal grandmother and resided within the owner’s maternal great-grandmother’s household in Bangalore. During childhood visits, the owner frequently handled and played with the elephants, eventually bringing them into the owner’s mother’s household, from which they later entered Bangalore House. They are presently displayed on the Resilience Fireplace, functioning as both sculptural objects and material witnesses to intergenerational maternal continuity.Type of Sculpture
Free StandingArtwork Details
Medium
WoodCategory
Permanent Collection