Indian Temple Fragment Depicting Elephant

Beast with an elephant head, a wheel at its back and a small attendant at its side.

This temple fragment depicting elephant is Jain, from Bhojpur, Kutch District, India, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is carved & painted stone. Jainism teaches that the universe has no beginning or end, and that nothing is created or destroyed as living souls and non-living things change form over time. Composite creature rests on a rectangular base with a raised trunk and a rounded, scrolled body. A small wheel sits at its rear, and a tiny standing figure holds an object near the front legs. It is 25.5 inches wide, 7 deep and 20 high.

Crowded with ideas, and every one of them carved neatly.