Wooden model of elephant and mahout drummer, from the palace of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam, 1799

Carved and painted wood elephant and rider, on rectangular base, made by an Indian artist, 1790 (c). The elephant's back is painted with floral patterns to represent an ornate elephant cloth and its head and trunk are also painted with decorative patterns.

On the fall of Seringapatam in 1799 during the Fourth Mysore War numerous items were acquired by British soldiers as souvenirs and trophies. The painted wooden elephant differs little from works of art produced for the British.