Antique Hand-Carved Ebony Wood Elephant Figurines with Bone Inlay Tusks – Mid-Century Souvenir Art

Pair of antique, hand-carved ebony wood elephant figurines detailed with inlaid bone (or ivory) tusks, eyes, and toenails. These types of carvings are classic examples of mid-20th-century souvenir and export art, most commonly originating from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) or East Africa.

Sculpted from genuine ebony wood, a highly dense, heavy tropical hardwood prized for its nearly jet-black heartwood and mirror-like sheen when polished.

The contrasting white elements—including the upward tusks, small circular eyes, and individual toenail inserts—are typically made of polished bone or antique ivory.

The larger elephant shows deep, natural radial shrinkage cracks along its flank. Because ebony is exceptionally dense and hygroscopic, changes in relative humidity over decades often cause the wood to stress and split cleanly along the grain.
While the splitting on the larger figurine does reduce the value they remain a highly collectable decorative pair.