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I have the opportunity to purchase a wonderfully carved and detailed ivory elephant with many figures and decorated with small jewels.

It has a signature/mark on the bottom which I was hoping someone could translate for me.

It measures about 7.5 inches tall.

A relative time period and/or value would also be appreciataed.
(I don't know if it is just souvenir art or something better)

I than you on advance for your help.
Lori

A very nice and highly valuable ivory okimono signed 'Toyosai Mitsuchika', followed by a 'kakihan' (artist's mark).
Tokyo school, early Meiji era (1875-80).

Guy.

Hi Lori,

This piece seems unusual, in that groups of this sort would usually be from India, done in the Indian style.

The carving is extraordinary, and it offers many clues to help sort out the origin, i.e., the style in which the elephant is depicted (feet, eyes, ears,) the manner in which the human subjects are depicted (hair, clothing, implements), and the style of the elephant's equipment and decoration.

It is difficult to see the "jewels", are they actual stones, glass, or painted-on? And, I am curious what the small round carved object on the ground below the elephant's head is. (it may contain clues to the carver)

I am also curious as to the diameter of the base of the carving.

An ivory carving like this is certainly not what I would classify as souvenir art, and if I were you, my main concern would be the asking price, because above all it is a grand piece of art, even if it were brand new (which it is not).

If it were within what I would be willing to spend for its artistic value as perhaps the finest elephant group I have seen,(carved from a single piece of ivory) I would buy it first and ask questions later.

Included is a properly oriented photo of the marks.

Nice piece!

Cheers
Gman

Gman and Guy,

Thank you for your help!

The base measures 3.5x4.25 inches.

The "jewels" are applied stone or glass, even the tiniest of them on the strapping.

The object on the ground below the elephant's head appears to be a bowl; there is a similar but inverted object on the back of the mound.
(I've attached pictures of both)

Strange, but I can find only one comparable for Mr. Mitsuchika.

Lori

Hi Lori,

Thanks for the extra photos.

Based on the unique nature of the piece and Guy's information on the artist, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the piece based on quality. As for the value, as you said there are no comps for a piece like this by the artist, and you haven't mentioned the asking price.

If there is no hurry, you may want to send photos to one of the major auction houses to see if they will comment on its auction estimate. Take plenty of photos from all angles showing all of the subjects.

If you do purchase the piece, try to get as much background information as possible from the seller.

If the price seems affordable to you based on the artistic merit and quality of the carving, this looks like a sound investment.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

Cheers
Gman

Hi Lori,

This is such an interesting piece, from the photos I can just barely notice that there is a water jar on top of the elephant, so I assume the theme has to do with collecting water.

I cant see what else is up there inside the riding stand, but there seem to be three subjects inside the stand: one on the animal's rump holding a bowl on her head, another on the elephant's head holding a ladle, and the subject standing on the ladder, who has her hand up as if she is holding a bowl on her head, as is the subject on the elephant's rump, perhaps it is her bowl which has fallen to the ground below.

Then we have another subject with a ladle next to the ladder, a subject in front of the elephant's left front foot whose ladle is on the ground behind her (is she reaching for something?), and yet another subject who seems to be reclining beside the elephant's left hind foot.

I cant quite see what implement she is associated with, it looks like there is something in her left hand, so it is a toss-up as to whether the inverted bowl belongs to her, or to the subject above her in the riding stand.

In your second photo from the top, I can also just barely detect the head of at least one other subject beneath the elephant (I am guessing she has a ladle too), bringing the total number of subjects to at least ten.

Perhaps the elephant is positioned over a well, or a cavity in the rocks where water has collected, and they are using a 'bucket brigade" method to fill the jar? Epic!

Thanks for posting this, more photos would be nice.

Cheers
Gman

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