AN INDIAN MONUMENTAL BRASS TEMPLE TOY ELEPHANT CHARIOT WITH ITS HOWDAH (COVERED BACK CARRIAGE)
Maharashtra or Karnataka, Western India, 18th century

Comprising eight individually cast, detachable parts including the elephant chariot with four wheels, the mahout (elephant rider), the murti (icon) of the divine couple of Shiva and Uma / Parvati, and the howdah made of four poles and a rectangular openwork cover with a lotus bud in the middle, the figurines cast and worked in a traditional style with large, bulging eyes and adorned with long braided necklaces and heavy earrings, the elephant's forehead incised with flowers and vegetal motifs and decorated with ceremonial trappings, his truncated tusks adorned with rings, four small hoops around the base of the howdah once strung to pull the chariot during ceremonial processions, the chariot pedestal incised with chevron and geometric motifs, ca. 70cm high.

A similar Indian monumental brass horse, also attributed to Maharashtra or Karnataka and dated ca. 1600, was successfully sold earlier this year at Sotheby's New York, 21 March 2023, lot 185. However, the presence of wheels on the present lot suggests our figurine was originally conceived and reserved for a more practical and active use, perhaps getting paraded and strung along during ritual processions or temple ceremonies.