CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Elephant. A figure of an elephant generally used to express peace and prosperity. Cow dung, over centuries, has been used for making toys as an inexpensive alternative to wooden and metal toys. A lump of mixture of clay and cow dung is shaped and smoothened with a coat of chalk and then painted. These lightweight toys are generally coarse in design and lack detailing and ornamentation. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Nabgunjara Wall Hanging. This wall hanging shows the mythical creature Nabgunjara that is a composite animal in which Lord Vishnu disguised himself in the Odia version of Mahabharata. It has the head of a cock, neck of a peacock, hump of the bull, a snake for tail, and the waist of a lion. Three of its legs are from a tiger, a horse and an elephant while the fourth is a human holding a flower or a mirror. Such appliqué wall hangings are used for good luck. Appliqué is an art of cutting and stitching stylized and bold cloth designs onto a piece of base cloth which could be mounted on a frame. Appliqué items are used for ritualistic practices as well as for decorative and utilitarian needs. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: State Elephant in Front of Palace

Subject: Leather puppets of Karnataka are called Togalu Gombe Atta. "Togalu" means leather, "Gombe" means doll and "Atta" means dance. Such a composite elephant was produced by the gopis to keep Krishna from leaving. The lead rider could be Krishna but he is bending a bow like that of Kamadeva, the God of Love, who has also been portrayed on just such an elephant. The second rider seems to have wings and may be Garuda rather than Balarama. ['Togalu Gombe Atta' Style Shadow Figure of Nav Nari Kunjar, a Composite Elephant Made Up of Nine Women]

Subject: An inscription on the reverse names the horse rider as Ram Singh and the nobles as Rao Bakhat Singh, Maharaja Pratap Singh, Pancholi Kishandas, Tuar Kishan Singh, Chauhan Zoravar Singh, and Sakhavat Shyam Singh. [Maharana Sangram Singh II at the Chaugan Watching the Tame Elephant Raj Gak Defeating a Tiger]

Subject: Chained Bull Elephant Surrounded by Calves

Subject: Page from a manuscript of the Gaja Salote (Elephant Manual) written by Shyam Vaid for Rao Asi Singh of Muktapur who presented it to Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur in 1824. The manuscript includes a treatise on elephant anatomy, recognition and treatment of elephant diseases, and descriptions of elephants from different parts of India. [An Elephant Attacked by Disease in the Form of a Multi-Headed Striped Demon]

Subject: Illumination: Sakra with elephant goad and parasol

Subject: King riding elephant [Gold Dinar, Obverse (forgery)]

Subject: Elephant Container with Lid. This is a container shaped like an elephant made from the papier-mâché technique. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Elephant Container with Lid. This is a container shaped like an elephant made from the papier-mâché technique. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Lakshmi Seated on Elephant. This is a model of Goddess Lakshmi seated on an elephant made from papier-mâché technique. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. Back view of the object. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Lakshmi Seated on Elephant. This is a model of Goddess Lakshmi seated on an elephant made from papier-mâché technique. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Elephant. This is a decorative elephant wood carving. The wood carving of Odisha exhibits a perfect blend of classical and folk elements. The wood items of the place are meant both for decorative and functional use.

Subject: Elephant. This is a decorative elephant wood carving. The wood carving of Odisha exhibits a perfect blend of classical and folk elements. The wood items of the place are meant both for decorative and functional use.

Subject: Elephant. This is a decorative elephant wood carving. The wood carving of Odisha exhibits a perfect blend of classical and folk elements. The wood items of the place are meant both for decorative and functional use.

Subject: Stupa 1 (The Great Stupa), North Torana, west pillar, elephant at southeast

Subject: Stupa 2, northwest sector, inner face of pillar 77B, medallion: elephant with lotuses

Subject: Stupa 2, southeast sector, pillar 24A, medallion: elephant with lotuses

Subject: Base, left portion, Lion and elephant [Buddha in Bhumisparsa (earth touching) Mudra]

Subject: Gajasimha. This is Gajasimha, a mythical creature. It may be portrayed as part lion, part elephant and part horse, and in similar shapes. An essential part of growing up in Odisha is toys, dolls, puppets and masks from wood. Animal figures are a popular theme. These toys are richly colored and developed in a stylized form. Often, gambhari or beech wood, the local wood is used for the carvings as it has a fine texture and is light-cream color though other woods may also be used. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: An Elephant Chase

Subject: Gajasimha. This is Gajasimha, a mythical creature. It may be portrayed as part lion, part elephant and part horse, and in similar shapes. An essential part of growing up in Odisha is toys, dolls, puppets and masks from wood. Animal figures are a popular theme. These toys are richly colored and developed in a stylized form. Often, gambhari or beech wood, the local wood is used for the carvings as it has a fine texture and is light-cream color though other woods may also be used. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Maharana Jai Singh (r. 1680-1698) of Mewar (Udaipur); Elephant of Maharaja Sri Jai Singhji