Elephant goad (ankus)
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Gold, enamelled and set with natural colourless sapphires, and possibly colourless beryls and topazes.
- Credit Line:
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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The ankus is a tool for the handling and training of elephants consisting of a metal hook attached to a short handle. The elephant is trained to respond to pressure applied to the sensitive skin behind the ears in much the same manner as horses by spurs.
Elephants have been used during religious ceremonies and processions and as mounts for royalty since antiquity. The ankus is therefore found in armouries and temples all across India, often ornately decorated with gemstones, or engraved with passages of sacred text
The ankus is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala in Hinduism, and is associated with certain other religions of the Indian subcontinent. A goad is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.
Physical description
Elaborately ornamented elephant goad, with two terminal spikes of blued steel, one straight and one curved. Gold set with natural colourless sapphires and other diamond simulants on blue, green or red enamel with polychrome painted enamel on the grip, depicting scenes of the hunt.
Place of Origin
Jaipur, India (made)
Date
ca. 1870 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Gold, enamelled and set with natural colourless sapphires, and possibly colourless beryls and topazes.
Dimensions
Length: 54.5 cm
Object history note
Acquired for the India Museum after being shown at the 1871 Exhibition; transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879. Acquisition records note the presence of diamonds; examination by Joanna Whalley on 3 September 2009 indicates that these are all diamond simulants, mostly natural colourless sapphires and possibly some colourless beryls and topaz.
Descriptive line
Elephant goad ankus gold set with natural colourless sapphires, polychrome enamel, Jaipur, ca. 1870
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224, p.213, pl.188.
Susan Stronge, in The Indian Heritage. Court Life and Arts under Mughal Rule, V&A, 1982, cat. 449, p.136, ISBN 0906969263.
Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 109, Cat. No. 391A
Exhibition History
Diamonds (Natural History Museum, London 01/01/2005-31/12/2005)
Production Note
Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879
Materials
Gold; Enamel; Natural white sapphires
Techniques
Enamelling
Subjects depicted
Hunting; Elephant
Categories
Ceremonial objects; Arms & Armour; Transport
Collection code
SSEA
