Vintage Indian Hand-Carved Sandalwood Elephant Sculpture – Detailed Art Deco Style

For sale is a vintage, hand-carved sculpture of an elephant. This detailed and stylized piece is indicative of mid-20th-century Indian artisanal carving, likely from the Mysore region, known for its high-quality woodwork. It is crafted from a light-colored, fine-grained wood, very likely sandalwood, which has taken on a rich, warm, golden-brown aged patina.

The carving shows a strong Art Deco influence with its smooth, rounded planes and geometric incised lines, contrasting beautifully with the organic form of the animal.

A unique characteristic and key indicator of true artisanal crafting is the small, drilled hole on the elephant’s back (see images). This was historically done to test the authenticity of the sandalwood. If the fine, light-colored wood is revealed within the test hole, it confirms it is not a cheaper wood that has been stained, but rather true sandalwood carved all the way through.