Ancient piece of art?

[hafhuw]

Object
Ancient marble statue of elephant or mammoth son, mothers protective proboscis over her.
Remnants a bit of paint has been preserved.

Dimensions
Length 6cm, width 3,5cm.

Material
Seems like marble, but I'm not a expert.

Found from eastern Mediterranean coast long time ago.

The question
Is there a chance that it really is antient (Mesopotamian maybe?) thing?
If that chance exists, then what would be me my next reasonable step, when i want to evaluate and sell this statue?

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Ugh. Gronk hate impressionists.

No idea what you have there but there does seem to be something going on; Asian elephant by the ears.. Perhaps broken off from a larger work that included the mother?

 

[bradyboy]

Thinking its a natural stone
You can see anything you want in it
IMO
Brady

 

[trikikiwi]

Thinking its a natural stone
You can see anything you want in it
IMO
Brady

It's definitely the remnant of a carving of elephants. This might help


You can see the baby elephant's tail end in one of the other pics.

Interesting find. It does look like it has tumbled in water for some time.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm usually the first to poo-poo what folks see in stone and rocks. But this one has an ear of similar proportions on each side and the lines of the larger trunk don't look naturally occurring. The "baby" even has a tail where it should be.

Certainly possible it is natural and just coincidental.

 

[sutphin]

I CONCOUR ON THE ANSWER .....

 

[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

This does appear to be something. The mother would have been much bigger and there isn't much left of the baby. If ancient it would be a very complex piece which is why I'd guess more modern. However I've been unable to find a mother cradling/lifting a baby elephant in this way as a statue in any searches. Maybe someone can find something close?

Interesting piece! Are there remnants of the trunk beneath the babys belly? That'd seal it for me.

 

[hafhuw]

Initially i also was thinking that it is broken off from a larger work that included the mother. However, more I looked at it, then more looks like it is designed to be like it is.
It is too equally damaged from all around.
Trikikiwi, yes it has tumbled in water for some time. It was found from sea shore after strong spring storm.
There is no doubt that it is a work of art created by man. Only creepy thing is, that this baby has only 1 eye..
I add picture from beneath the babys belly.

 

[Sput]

I think you are on the wrong track It appears to be a fossilized worm or mollusk of some kind.

 

[stefen]

Need to determine scale...is it several inched or several feet?

 

[austin]

This WAS part of a larger piece. Mother with her trunk, protecting or caressing the baby. Possibly a trade piece and yes, most probably marble. Not mesopotamian period, but probably Phoenician or Egyptian traders. Don't think it was greek traders. Carved most likely in India, but maybe Africa. How do I know? Am I the only person here that has been to the British Museum? Amazing discoveries there...

 

[d2]

I see an elephant too. Now I haven't been to the British museum but I have spent a night or two in a Holiday inn express...d2

 

[ARC]

Petrified Yeti turd :P

 

[DCMatt]

Possibly a kataburi netsuke? It is about the right size.

These are of ivory but they were carved from many types of material.

 

[DCMatt]

Now I see why you are hoping for Mesopotamian...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guennol_Lioness