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Southeast Asia, Khmer Empire (Angkor culture), ca. 13th century CE. A charming ceramic limepot in the shape of a particularly rotund elephant. The globular body is supported by four stout legs. High relief details form the tail, the sides of a saddle, and a delightful head with a long, curving trunk and two short tusks. The elephant is decorated with incised lines to give the impression that it is dressed in finery and wearing reins. Size: 5.1″ L x 4.5″ W x 3.8″ H (13 cm x 11.4 cm x 9.7 cm)
Elephants played an important role in the Khmer Empire, as we know from the written report of Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan in 1296 CE, one of our few historical sources for life in Angkor. Zhou described the emperor, Indravarman III, in a royal procession: “Behind [the wives and concubines] comes the sovereign, standing on an elephant, holding his sacred sword in his hand. The elephant
