Sri Lankan Kandy Elephant, silver mounts, c. 1900
$395.00 AUD
‘Kandy’ Elephant -Ceylonese (Sri Lanka) figure of an Elephant, carved in ebony with bone tusks & toenails, covered in silver decorative claddings incised with flower designs, with several glass ‘gems’ mounted & bells and rattles suspended from the edges, wearing a pair of decorative tusk protector tips, the back supporting a small open shrine representing the ‘Tooth of Buddha’, Sri Lanka’s holiest buddhist relic.
Circa 1900 – 1920
15cm high
The Kandy Esala Perahera, one of Sri Lanka’s most revered festivals, takes place annually in the historic city of Kandy, usually during July or August. This vibrant, multi-day celebration honors Sri Lankan culture, tradition, and religious devotion, with a grand procession featuring majestic elephants adorned in ornate costumes. These elephants carry sacred relics, most notably the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, enshrined in Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth.
The procession winds through the streets of Kandy, creating a mesmerizing spectacle with dancers, drummers, and fire-breathers filling the air with rhythm and energy. The elephants, symbols of strength and wisdom, move majestically through the city, while the pulsating drumbeats and flickering torchlight heighten the festival’s mystical atmosphere. On the back of the largest is a shrine containing the ‘Tooth of the Buddha’.
Rooted in ancient tradition, the festival was originally held to bring prosperity and honor to the Buddha. Today, the Kandy Esala Perahera continues to be a powerful expression of Sri Lanka’s religious and cultural heritage, offering an unforgettable experience that immerses visitors in the spiritual and cultural heart of the island.
These small models are carved from Ebony wood, with high-grade silver adornment, and were made as mementoes of the event – perfect for visitors from the west. Sri Lanka was a common stop-off for the Victorian and Edwardian traveller, who having come through the Suez Canal, found themselves in Ceylon when their ship put in to re-supply with coal. This close connection with Colonial Ceylon is why we find so many older Sri Lankan items in Australia.
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