Elephant in a Ceremonial Blanket — brass sculpture

The elephant stands calmly with its trunk slightly raised, draped in a decorative blanket covered with openwork floral ornament in turquoise green. The motif echoes the Indian tradition of festival processions, in which elephants were dressed in richly embroidered textiles. The broad ears, the folds of the skin and the marked toenails contrast with the geometric rhythm of the decoration across the back.

The sculpture is handmade: cast in brass, then hand-chased, pierced and patinated. This is handcrafted work with an exceptional amount of decorative labour — every element of the ornament is worked by hand and the openings in the blanket are cut individually, so the pattern never repeats exactly. The turquoise patina is applied in layers and rubbed back along the edges, revealing the warm golden shine of the metal beneath. The compact, stable form needs no base and displays beautifully on a sideboard, shelf, windowsill or in a cabinet, sitting well in ethnic and boho interiors. As a symbol of luck, strength and prosperity, the elephant makes a warm gift for a housewarming or a birthday.