Elephant with Raised Trunk — bronze sculpture

The elephant strides forward with its trunk curled high and its ears held out from the head — a pose traditionally associated with luck and good fortune. The silhouette is simplified and compact, carried on four sturdy legs, without unnecessary anatomical literalism. What catches the eye is the contrast between the cool, marbled grey of the body and the gold accents on the tusks, the rims of the ears, the tip of the trunk, the tail and the toenails. The sculpture is handmade: cast in bronze, then hand-worked and hand-patinated.

This is handcrafted work with an unusual finish — the crackled, stone-like surface texture is built up by applying the patina by hand in multiple layers, so the pattern of greys and whites is different on every casting and cannot be reproduced exactly. The gold details are applied separately, which brings out their shine. The stable horizontal form needs no base and displays beautifully on a sideboard, desk, shelf or windowsill. As a symbol of strength, wisdom and good fortune, the elephant makes a warm gift for a housewarming, a birthday, or the start of a new chapter.