Exceptional Silver Model of an Elephant & Mahout by Oomersi Mawji

This large, monumental model of an elephant, with a mahout and howdah is by the renown, 19th century Indian silversmith Oomersi Mawji.

It is purely decorative. The elephant is well-observed. The chasing of the flower motifs on the blanket over the elephant’s back is exceptional, as are the folds and crenulations in the blanket, which are particularly naturalistic.

The howdah is elaborate and has two domes on top. The howdah is slightly skew-whiff on the elephant’s back which precisely emulates how a howdah sits and sways with the movement of the elephant.

The elephant stands on a wooden base that is decorated with pierced silver edging and which stands on four fine silver feet.

The underside of one of the elephant’s feet is stamped with a well-cut cameo punch with the initials ‘O.M.’ Another is stamped with the word ‘BHUJ’ (the town in which Oomersi had his workshop). Wilkinson (1999) points out that items with this crisp punch tend to be the earlier items most likely associated with the hand of Oomersi himself, and belong to the period 1860-1890. The stamps here are only apparent once the wooden platform is removed from the elephant (it is held in place by silver screws).

Oomersi Mawji was the pre-eminent Indian silversmith of his time. Together with his sons, he established a workshop in Kutch around 1860, where the local Muslim rulers who had the title ‘Maharao’ were an important source of patronage. Today, pieces by Oomersi Mawji are keenly sought by collectors and museums worldwide.

This  model elephant must count among the more monumental items of silver Oomersi Mawji ever produced.