fair trade elephant gifts

This intricately hand carved wood elephant figurine will be a majestic addition to your home or office. Handcrafted by Indian artisan Ashish Mehta from kadam wood, the elephant is full of details, including inlaid plastic dots and stars, and jali openwork circle carving on the elephant's sides and legs. Peer through the elephant's sides and discover a tiny baby elephant inside.

Wood carvers in San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, crafted animal figurines for generations before the area's alebrije tradition took hold, mostly as children's toys. It's the gorgeous way even real animals are decorated that shows how the Oaxacan artisans have truly embraced the handicraft style. This hand carved copal wood elephant from Jesus and Roxana Hernandez is hand painted in green, with elaborate geometric motifs on its legs and ears in black combined with lovely purple, pink, and blue tones.

It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. He was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The creatures repeatedly uttered the word alebrije, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.

Exquisitely decorated with the detailed motifs that distinguish alebrije artwork, this elephant stands with trunk raised in the air. Mexican artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez handcraft the figurine from copal wood, painting it in colorful shades.

Handcrafted from local suar wood, this sculpture is presented by Indonesian artisan Nengah Sudarsana. Depicting a black elephant fast asleep, the sculpture brings an exotic spirit to any shelf or table top.

This sculpture, presented by Amporn, is hand-carved from rain tree wood, capturing the powerful majesty of the Thai elephant. Featuring a polished finish and tusks made from ivorywood, this beautiful image is relaxing and full of character.

This beautiful pair of sculptures depicts a pair of royally-clad elephants, mother and child. The two statuettes are carved by hand by Balinese artisan Sarwaedi. The artisan adds crocodile wood tusks.

Ornate designs and beautiful openwork give this elephant figurine a truly royal and exotic appearance. Hand-carved by artisan Gulam Rasool of India, the elephant is crafted out of natural soapstone. A smaller elephant is expertly carved inside of the figurine.

Expertly carving rain tree wood, skilled Thai artisans capture an elephant's majestic power and keen intelligence in a gift sculpture presented by Amporn. They give the piece a polished finish and add ivorywood tusks.

Thailand's Charles creates this royal elephant, perfect for decorating any surface in your home. Hand crafted from brass, the elephant lifts his trunk and is dressed in the traditional Thai style. An antique finish gives the sculpture a truly timeless appeal.

Expertly carving rain tree wood, skilled artisant depict a majestic trumpeting elephant. presented by Amporn. They give the sculpture a polished finish and add ivorywood tusks.

Amporn presents a sculpture that captures the power and purpose of an elephant at work in the Thai rainforest. Expertly carved of teak wood, it receives a polished finish and ivorywood tusks.

Gentle and trusting despite his imposing size, this handsome elephant statuette is presented by Thai artisan Amporn. She carves the beast entirely by hand, working with the natural grain and color of the wood to achieve lifelike detail.

Please note that the tusks may be removed and wrapped separately for safe shipping.