A rare bronze elephant-form fixture

GANDHARA, CIRCA 1ST/2ND CENTURY

细节

A rare bronze elephant-form fixture
Gandhara, circa 1st/2nd Century
The harnessed elephant with raised trunk terminating in a lotus flowerhead, with six tusks, surmounted by a regal figure seated on a low cubical stool over a tasseled saddle blanket, wearing a bird-shaped Phrygian-style hat and holding a looped noose in his left hand, his hand reaching out to receive a libation from the mahout seated astride the elephant's neck and turning towards him, all cast as a hollow vessel, with separately cast attached forelegs and hinged ears
9 in. (23.5 in.) long

拍品专文

No other fixture of this type appears to be recorded. The costume, specifically the hat with upturned tip worn by the seated figure, is of Phrygian type. The elephant with six tusks generally represents the mount of Samantabhadra, the first Dhyani Bodhisattva. He is also the bearer of the 'Wish-granting gem' and the sacred patra or alms bowl of Buddha.