Elephant With Obelisk, English, 19th Century – Signed

Spectacular 19th-century English sculpture consisting of a finely crafted silver-plated bronze elephant, above which stands a natural malachite obelisk. The piece is richly decorated with inlays of various exotic and precious materials, such as red coral, mother-of-pearl, fossils, and other carefully selected natural elements. On the underside of the elephant is an engraved inscription: "Published by John Blakeway on 28 May 1832," certifying its origin and date of publication. This work is a magnificent example of the decorative eclecticism of the Victorian era, where an interest in the exotic and the scientific was combined with virtuoso craftsmanship. The piece is in perfect condition. Ideal as a collector's item or as a centerpiece in a cabinet of curiosities setting. Dimensions: 53 x 25 x 20 cm.