Clairet Asian elephant: A walkaround by Kikimalou

The excellent topic Elephas_maximus made about the Clairet African Elephant encouraged me to show you a small walkaround of another Clairet beauty: The Asian elephant !

I can't tell you his name, but maybe Andrew will help us   .

This model was produced for the first time in 1955. Together with an Asian elephant with raised trunk, they were also used in Tiger hunt scenes with a Cornac and hunter.

Here are some pics of the zoo basal model   

Wonderful little elephant! I enjoyed your good pics   Thanks!

Ohh, Christoph, you lucky collector   

They are gorgeous ! WOW !  

Very beautieful old elephant(s)!! Thanks for the pics Kiki

Excellent post Christophe, thank you for the wonderful pictures.  The group picture is very helpful for me to see the size of the model.  After seeing this figure from all angles I definitely need this model for my collection!  

I also have the "skinny" trunk up elephant shown but mines is in ivory colour, the sculpting on this figure is not nearly as nice as the bigger Indian elephant.

The old zoo records I have are incomplete, I'm not able to identify a possible real life model for this figure.  I know it is definitely not Siam as he arrived at Vincennes in 1964.  There was an adult bull Indian at Vincennes from the late 1930s until 1969 but I'm unable to find any pictures of this animal.

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Lovely elephant and beautiful walk around photos Christophe!!! Thank you for sharing!

Gorgeous!! Great walk around Christophe!

Thank you, thank you my friends   

elephas_maximus wrote:

Excellent post Christophe, thank you for the wonderful pictures.  The group picture is very helpful for me to see the size of the model.  After seeing this figure from all angles I definitely need this model for my collection!  

I also have the "skinny" trunk up elephant shown but mines is in ivory colour, the sculpting on this figure is not nearly as nice as the bigger Indian elephant.  

The old zoo records I have are incomplete, I'm not able to identify a possible real life model for this figure. I know it is definitely not Siam as he arrived at Vincennes in 1964.  There was an adult bull Indian at Vincennes from the late 1930s until 1969 but I'm unable to find any pictures of this animal.

I was sure you would fall in love with this one   

Of course, for an elephant specialist as you are, the skinny standart elephant is less interesting, nevertheless it is still IMHO a "Artdeco" little jewel.

So if you don't know the name of the elephant, I guess it will stay a mystery. I was really amazed that you found the name of the African elephant. Since the zoo is opened again, we will have new books about it ?

Kikimalou wrote:

My Clairet elephant tribe   

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Thanks for the walk-a-round and the interesting information Christophe. I have never seen Clairet animals in real life before and the set you have has realistic animated poses. All are wonderful and hopefully I will be lucky and see some soon.

Thank you Chris, it matters you like them   

Kikimalou wrote:

Thank you Chris, it matters you like them   

They are amazing models Christophe.   

Wonderfull models my friend!

Thank you Willy

Bienvenue!

I love Clairet! ... the company, of course!
That picture with the group is very special and acentuate all the rich poses and expressiveness of these figures. Pure art!

François Clairet had a great talent, he was able to create small stylised toys which capture the very essence of the animals they represent. That's why this brand have a very special place on my shelves and in my heart.

It is also fun to read comments like "Wonderful little elephant!", of course I appreciate the comment and this elephant is small compared to a Playmobil. Though, when I have it in hand, it looks huge, very huge, the sculpting is so excellent you can feel it is a tall and heavy animal.

I love Clairet even more then the other French brands for their very nice art-deco style.
And you have to love art-deco like me for that!

You have very good taste Willy

Thank you my friend, i know, haha. But not everything from France is that good, but Art-Deco, ohlala...

Yes I know, a piece of Roquefort on an Art Déco plate for Willy

Oh i just love Roquefort, the best of blue cheeses in the world!

A good bread, a good bottle of white wine, a Roquefort and good friends... What else?

When you change the kind of alcohol, i could live very well with that!

alcohol? Where?