Wooden Elephant Head Wall Art - 17-Inch Hand-Carved, 6 Colours

An elephant head mounted on a wall, carved from mango wood: trunk curled down and forward, ears spread wide and painted with mandala work in gold or white. It is the Indian answer to a farmhouse animal head - the same silhouette, none of the taxidermy.

Product details

• 17 inches high x 14.3 inches wide x 5 inches deep
• Weight: 1,545 g (approx. 3.4 lb)
• Mango wood, hand-carved and hand-painted
• Head carved from a single block; ears carved separately and joined
• Hand-painted in India
• Hanging hook fitted to the back
• Price is per head - choose one colour above

Why this one

1,545 g (approx. 3.4 lb) of solid mango wood. The head is cut from a single block and the ears are carved separately and joined, which is why they can spread to 14.3 inches without being a flat cut-out - each ear has its own curve. That is also where the painting is: the mandala work runs across both ears and down the forehead, freehand, in gold on the dark colourways and in white on the mint and maroon.

Which colour

• Blue - royal blue with gold mandala work on the ears
• Black - black with gold, the highest-contrast of the six
• Mint Green - soft mint with teal ears and red trunk tips
• Yellow - marigold yellow with teal ears
• Brown - a deep maroon oxblood with white detailing
• Nile Blue - a dark navy, almost black, with white detailing

Gold detailing on Blue, Black and Yellow; white detailing on Mint Green, Brown and Nile Blue. Check the photographs - the colour names are the artisan's rather than a paint chart, and Brown in particular reads as maroon in the room.

Where it goes

Entryway walls, above a console or a bar, at the top of a stair, in a nursery, or centred over a fireplace. It projects five inches off the wall, so it needs somewhere people do not brush past it. Hung as a pair in two colours it reads as deliberate rather than decorative.

Hanging it

A hook is fitted to the back. At 1,545 g a rated drywall anchor or a stud is the right fixing - a plain picture nail is not enough for something that projects this far. Screws and anchors are not supplied.

Care

Dust with a dry cloth, working into the ear carving with a soft brush. Wood does not like damp: keep it off bathroom walls and away from steam.

Frequently asked questions

Is this solid wood or resin?
Solid mango wood, hand-carved. At 1,545 g for a 17-inch head the weight tells you - a resin or hollow cast of these dimensions would be a fraction of it.

How far does it stick out from the wall?
Five inches. Worth measuring in a hallway before you commit to a position.

Are the ears attached or carved in one piece?
The head is one block; the ears are carved separately and fixed on. That is what lets them curve rather than sitting flat against the head.

Is each one identical?
No. Every head is carved and painted by hand, so the mandala work differs slightly from piece to piece even within one colour.

Does the elephant have a religious meaning here?
The elephant carries associations of strength and good fortune in Indian tradition, and Ganesha is elephant-headed. This piece is a decorative animal head, not a deity image.

Can it go outdoors on a covered porch?
We do not recommend it. Mango wood moves with humidity and the paint will lift.

What if it arrives damaged?
Shipping is insured. Photograph the damage, email contact@urliutsav.com, and we will replace it or make it right.

Can I return it?
Yes, within 30 days in original condition and packaging. Return shipping is arranged and paid by the customer, so check the dimensions against your wall first.

Can I order several?
For hospitality, restaurants, stores or corporate gifting, email contact@urliutsav.com and we will quote you for a bulk order.

Shipping and assurance

Free insured shipping across the USA and Canada. Ships from San Ramon, California, usually within one business day. If it arrives damaged, send us a photo and we will resolve it - transit damage is covered.

See the full range in the Indian Handcrafted Wall Art collection.