An elephant carved from a single block of compact, heavy wood, with a black and red patina. Note: this elephant wears anklets, so he's dressed for a parade, albeit a sober one.

In Indian culture, the elephant is omnipresent. It represents good luck, prosperity and protection. In India, an elephant statue is considered a good-luck charm. Often placed at the entrance to a house, it protects its inhabitants and brings good fortune. We were told that the head should always face outwards. Worked by talented sculptors who perpetuate a thousand-year-old tradition by respecting the smallest details of the anatomy of this majestic animal, some elephant statues are true works of art and are offered as gifts at weddings, births and inaugurations.

Retour De Voyage is particularly fond of elephants, and has brought them back from many countries. Those from Rajasthan are especially prized for the quality of their carving and, above all, their painting in the miniaturist tradition.

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