A CARVED STEATITE FIGURE OF AN ELEPHANT WITH RANJIT SINGH (R. 1780-1839)
NORTHWESTERN INDIA, PUNJAB, 19TH CENTURY
Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000
Auction: 11 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
black stone carved with naturalistic details on a stand, the elephant caparisoned with a ceremonial howdah with two people seated inside facing one another, one figure with a characteristic long and tapering beard with his hands out in prayer closely resembling Ranjit Singh, a mahout is seated on the elephant's neck
Dimensions
27.2cm high
Provenance
Acquired from Susanna Montiel-Colmenares, circa 15 years ago.
Private UK collection.
Footnote
Elephants have long been used in India to carry rulers during official processions and hunts and therefore are a common motif in art and sculpture depicting sovereigns. Their attributes were a marriage of Indian and European sensibilities, often exposed to Britain during the Regency period. Our example very likely depicts Maharajah Ranjit Singh with his distinctive howdah and facial resemblance. For a small carved black steatite sculpture of Ranjit Singh, See Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 30th April 2019, Lot 205.