15th C. Thai Glazed Pottery Candle Holder - Elephant

Southeast Asia, Thailand, Sawankhalok (Si Satchanalai), ca. 15th century CE. A charming hand-built pottery candle holder in the form of a seated elephant boasting a beautiful celadon-hued glaze. The endearing animal presents a thick body with front legs bent forward with the feet placed on the ground, as though about to rise to a standing position, and hind legs folded back, while a slender tail protrudes from its posterior, resting atop its left leg. Its adorable visage is tilted skywards and displays annular eyes, tapered tusks, and an incised mouth, as it curls its lengthy trunk over its head into an elegant loop. A pair rectangular ears flank its face just below a pair of petite mounts at the top of its head and a large spike for placing a candle rises from its back. The delightful creature is embellished with lovely relief striations that darken beneath the glaze to depict a chain-link harness wrapping around its body and folds of flesh at its chest and trunk. Size: 7" L x 2.875" W x 5.125" H (17.8 cm x 7.3 cm x 13 cm)

Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA

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#164875
Condition Report: Repaired and restored from multiple pieces with full restoration of head and tail, as well as some possible restoration of candle spike, front part of body, and limbs. Otherwise, very nice with lovely craquelure from age in areas.