Many animals become symbols of human attributes; the fox, praised
for its cunning; the dog for its loyalty; the cat for its independence,
but for the elephant a single quality is insufficient. Patience, regality,
strength, wisdom and longevity all suit it. The pachyderm is also
regarded as a prodigious lucky charm. “An elephant ridden by a
king is radiant, a king who rides an elephant is beaming’’, so says
an old manuscript. In Jaipur, a city of western India, it was endowed
with special significance by the Maharajahs and even today it is still
commemorated in the Elephant Festival, an exuberant procession of
music and dancing. Such virtue should be celebrated with honour,
as VILLARI does through fine porcelain decorated in pearl grey
combined with brilliant colours and adorned with 24 carat gold.
Jaipur Elephant
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