Carved lapis lazuli elephant sculpture with calf

This decorative sculptural piece depicts an adult elephant with its trunk raised high, accompanied by a smaller calf standing beneath the adult's head. The sculpture is meticulously carved from a rich blue stone visually consistent with lapis lazuli, displaying natural mottled deep blue coloration interspersed with characteristic white calcite veining and glittering pyrite inclusions throughout the polished surfaces. The carving exhibits smooth contours and detailed texturing, particularly evident in the rendering of the ears, facial features, and the curved folds of the trunks. The sculpture is mounted on a custom-fitted, polished reddish-brown wooden base with short cabriole-style feet, enhancing its display presentation. There are no immediately visible maker's marks, stamps, or signatures apparent from the image angle. The piece appears to be a modern decorative carving, exhibiting good overall polish and craftsmanship with minor natural surface pitting characteristic of lapis lazuli stones. The identification of the material is based on visual characteristics alone and remains unauthenticated.

Based on what I can see in the photograph, this decorative sculptural piece depicts an adult elephant with a calf, meticulously carved from a blue stone visually consistent with lapis lazuli featuring characteristic pyrite inclusions and calcite veining. The sculpture is mounted on a custom-fitted wooden base. However, I cannot verify from a photo whether the material is natural lapis lazuli or a reconstituted stone, synthetic composite, or dyed material, as physical and gemological inspection is required to determine the composition. Based on the visual characteristics and the assumption that the material is lapis lazuli, comparable decorative gemstone carvings of this type and size typically retail in the $400 to $600 range in the current secondary decorative arts market. The overall polish and craftsmanship appear to be of good quality, which supports this valuation assuming the attribution holds. If a physical inspection reveals that the piece is a modern replica, made of a synthetic simulant, or produced simply in the general style of traditional stone carvings rather than utilizing genuine lapis lazuli, the value would likely decrease significantly to the $75-150 range. To establish a more precise valuation and confirm the nature of the materials, I would need physical examination, specialized gemological testing, and an in-person assessment by a qualified mineral or gemstone specialist.