Lot 222: A pair of hand-carved rosewood elephant bookends, Kerala, India, dated 1965

A pair of Indian hand-carved hardwood bookends, each featuring a standing elephant figure on an L-shaped base. The figures are carved from a dark tropical hardwood, likely rosewood, displaying a prominent swirling grain. Each elephant is detailed with curled trunks, tusks, and small circular inlays to the feet representing toenails. The eyes and tusk tips are finished with a contrasting light-coloured material, likely bone. The elephants are secured to the bases with flat-head screws. The underside of each base bears a handwritten inscription in black ink: ERNAKULAM. KERELA. S.W. INDIA. 1965. OCT. The base of the right-hand bookend also carries a faint pencil inscription reading INDIA 1965.