Indian Temple Fragment Depicting Elephant

Pale stone elephant kneels on a slab, one trunk curled and one tusk showing.

This temple fragment depicting elephant is Jain, from Bhojpur, Kutch District, India, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is carved & painted stone. Paintings called Lokapurusha, or Cosmic Man, show separate worlds for liberated, celestial and mortal beings, along with a multi-tiered hell, all arranged within the figure of the universe. Carved elephant with a coiled trunk, large round eyes and a fine grooved pattern over the forehead. It kneels on a flat rectangular base, with swirling relief on the haunch and a broken edge at the rear. It is 21.5 inches wide, 7 deep and 19 high.

Kneeling with great dignity and a mighty good stare.