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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: talesofthesevenseas on November 02, 2021, 06:21:33 AM

Title: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 02, 2021, 06:21:33 AM

I picked up this neat little group of metal painted circus elephants marked only "England". They appear to have been part of a larger circus parade. I believe they date to the 1940's. Can anyone help ID them? I would love to see what the rest of the circus set was like if it exists. I bought them from a seller who had aquired a mixed bag of circus sets from different eras. I'm amazed that the little wooden and cloth "howdahs", headresses and "mahout" riders have survived. They are now parading across the cabinet in my office and I'm really enjoying them! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 02, 2021, 07:28:21 AM

More pics...

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: jacon4 on November 16, 2021, 12:54:48 PM

Sorry, NOT A CLUE about the elephants, and I did a Pinterest search off the photo & nada, but
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 16, 2021, 01:15:04 PM

Yeah I couldn't find any info either, but they look cool parading across the cabinet in my office, so I am happy! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: mart on November 20, 2021, 03:09:21 PM

What a neat find !  Will look for thhem later !

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: KC on November 24, 2021, 05:37:40 PM

Elephants were the collectible theme around 1880 to very early 1900's.  Not sure if these would be from that time period but I am betting they are!

I don't believe they are parade elephants but A Caravan of Elephants.  If you search that you will see that was extremely popular and mesmerizing during that time period as well.

Are these elephants solid or hollow?  Seams?   How big are they? 

I've been searching for Metal Elephants with Mahout (Rider/Keeper of Elephant) , Metal Elephants with Hathi Howdah (bed or carriage carried on the back of elephant).  A Howday or Houdah means "bed carried by a camel" but is also used for elephant. 

Hubley had a very popular cast iron Elephant with a Howdah bank original from around 1934 (reproductions were made in 50's).  (below)

Will keep looking!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 24, 2021, 05:48:39 PM

Thanks, I'm looking too. There is just not a lot to go by and I suspect that most elephants would have lost their howdahs and riders, making them harder to ID.

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: KC on November 25, 2021, 12:31:39 AM

Do you think it's possible that the Howdahs and Mahouts were added and not original?  Meaning done at the time period but by a store selling them?

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 25, 2021, 08:21:56 AM

I don't think so. Each elephant has a little hole in his head for the plumes on the front of their heads. These don't look drilled I think they were cast. So my guess is that everything they carry is original, but I can't say for sure.

Title: Re: Here Come the Elephants!
Post by: yukikouribe on April 12, 2022, 02:09:13 AM

Thank you, I'm also looking.