Schleich Elephant original design source

Joined : 2011-11-24 Posts : 484

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Years ago I saw an old book called "The Last Survivors", it had an elephant that resembled the Schleich 14144 Indian elephant bull. Today I looked it up at the library and indeed the Schleich elephant was based off this illustration. The book was released in 1970 and illustrated by Helmut Diller, who did some models for Schleich.

I'm not sure if Helmut sculpted the elephant but I believe he made some of the WWF figures.
As there was no WWF elephant released I made one (photoshop) based on the illustration to see what it could have been.

Original Schleich 14144 Indian elephant bull
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Illustration by Helmut Diller from the book
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My interpretation of it as a WWF model
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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:47 am

Wow, that's really cool! Amazing to see you have found another great story behind toy elephants!

Funny, I was almost thinking about selling my old schleich elephant bull because it doesn't look realistic but now seeing this story I think I like this model much more than before. Very Happy

And I LOVE this photoshop creation, how much I would be happy to see such model in real! Very Happy

Beautiful proportions and vintage charm and the most fantastic elephant smile. Wonderful work, as always Andrew! Applause

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Anna
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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 1:54 pm

Wow, that's very cool! Love the WWF mockup, great work cheers

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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:21 pm

Amazing story and amazing work you did cheers

Your work is a true wonder for Schleich collectors !

Thankyou very much for sharing bounce

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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:22 pm

Awesome! I have never seen anything like that!

Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:24 pm

You never cease to amaze. :)

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Laura

Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:26 pm

It is always a great pleasure to discover a new topic from Andrew. This is an interresting sory and the WWF is pure delicatessen cheers

Great great Ps job Applause

Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:30 pm

Unbelievable!

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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:46 pm

Good research and you've made a wonderful Photoshop illustration! Thanks for sharing!

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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:25 pm

WOW! Awesome! Applause

Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:53 pm

Wonderful work once more, Andrew! Very Happy

You're right, Schleich elephant is a chubbby version of this illustration. I think that figures turn more interesting when we know information like this.

:)

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Joined : 2011-11-24 Posts : 484

Thanks, I'm glad people found this interesting.
Here a re a few more illustrations form the book.

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Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Sun Sep 20, 2015 4:48 am

Wow, I have those two!

Subject: Re: Schleich Elephant original design source Sun Sep 20, 2015 8:30 am

Exceptionally beautyful illustrations cheers

Perhaps Schleich was also inpired by those ?
I often wondered why Schleich decided to make a Java rhino first, - and the pose of the tiger is almost the same as as no 14138... Shocked

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