Located in the Rattanakosin Kingdom (the traditional center of power), Wat Photharam (currently called Wat Pho) consists of a Buddhist temple complex. The complex is associated with King Rama I, who in 1782 rebuilt and expanded on an existing temple. Today the temple complex houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, including the 151 feet long reclining Buddha.
In the late 1800s, one of the statues carved to celebrate an anniversary of the temple was this elephant. It was carved by a well-known sculptor of the time.
Carved from a single piece of aged golden teak, I am told it is to scale. During the time when wars were waged with elephants, “gifted” ones were use in the palaces or . . . fighting war.
This statue is in very good condition with degradation in the foot pads only.
For the Serious Collector. What a treasure!