This Indian bronze elephant towing a chariot dates to 1890-1910 and is from Andhra Pradesh. This style of wheeled toy is commonly known as a temple toy. They were given as gifts to temples as donations of devotion, usually to Shiva or Khandoba, a warrior avatar of Shiva. Children would often play with these donations resulting in the name, 'temple toy'.

 The elephant is mounted by a mahout, an elephant handler holding his ankus (a goad for elephants). The piece was cast in multiple parts using the lost wax method and the finer details would have been hand carved and sanded. In this case, it was originally painted or lacquered. Remnants of red lacquer are still visible and there is ware and patina throughout showing it's been used and loved for many years.

Wheeled horse toys are more common but it is quite unusual to find wheeled elephant toys, especially with a chariot.

A similar example towed by a horse can be seen at The Walters Art Museum, Acc 53.151 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dimensions:

30 x 7 x 20 (wxdxh cms)

From India

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