Papier Mâché Elephant Sculpture

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented this gift to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during his Official Visit to Singapore from September 4 to 5, 2024.

^{Dimensions: 20.5 × 33.5 × 32.5 cm}

Papier mâché objects from the Jammu and Kashmir region of India are renowned for their beauty and craftsmanship. They are handmade using a paper pulp, glue, and natural materials, shaped in moulds before being hand-painted with intricate designs and finished with a protective lacquer coating.

A distinguishing feature of this elephant is its gilded decoration. Gold leaf or gold paint is applied to the papier mâché surface, creating a luminous background embellished with dense, hand-painted floral motifs in bright colours, characteristic of traditional Indian art. The facial features, such as the ears and eyes, are highlighted with additional detailing to give the elephant a lifelike and expressive look.