Old World Elephant II

This Oriental wall hanging “Old World Elephant I” is based on the work of artist Debra Swartzendruber. In this tapestry we see the Indian elephant in all his regalia roaming through a path in India. The works of Swartzendruber focuses on animals and their interaction with their surrounds, and in this tapestry we see her take an Asian or Oriental theme. The Asian elephant has been a major part of Indian culture since 1500 BC in the Vedic period and then became the carrier of the maharajas. The elephant became a symbol of Buddhism, and is a part of many annual festivals. Here the elephant is taking a break from carrying his load and is free to roam. The elephant in a village path and palm trees an Indian palace is seen beyond in the background. The sandy tones in this work by Swartzendruber evoke the warm and exotic theme of this Asian tapestry. This tapestry “Old World Elephant I” is unlined and has a tunnel for easy hanging.