Today I'm going back in time because I'm still blogger brain dead many of you probably missed this the forst time around. This is my first Show and Tell post in September 2007.
This bean has been in a small brown envelope in a drawer in my Mom's secretary for as long as I can remember. I have no idea how old it is or where it came from. All I know is we (my brother and I) have always been fascinated by the bean.
So what is with this bean? It is full off....
elephants!!
Yes, inside this bean are ten elephants!
These carved ivory elephants are about the size of the flame on the dime. Are you fascinated like me? Have you ever seen anything like this? I would love to find out more about it.For more Show and Tell posts go visit Cindy's Romantic Home. Thanks for stopping by!
EDIT; This was on e-bay. My bean doesn't have an elephant stopper.
Thanks, Cedar!
Magical Seeds From India
The owner of a magical seed will be granted a wish for each elephant contained inside it.
So goes the Hindu legend, anyway! And this tiny little seed comes from the "kunda-mani" which is the famous "good luck tree" of India. The shiny red seeds are often referred to as Circassian seeds, presumably in reference to the legendary beauty of the ancient land of Circassia and are produced by a tropical Asian tree called the red sandalwood. The top of the seed has been carefully removed and a carved elephant stopper put in its place. This elephant carefully guards your wishes inside the seed. There are a varying number of little elephant wishes inside, usually from about 7 to 12, although you will have to use a great deal of imagination to see anything resembling an elephant in the pieces. Seed measures 3/8 inch across and including elephant stopper, stands 1/2 inch tall. A great conversation piece and who knows?......perhaps your good luck awaits you here!
The owner of a magical seed will be granted a wish for each elephant contained inside it.
So goes the Hindu legend, anyway! And this tiny little seed comes from the "kunda-mani" which is the famous "good luck tree" of India. The shiny red seeds are often referred to as Circassian seeds, presumably in reference to the legendary beauty of the ancient land of Circassia and are produced by a tropical Asian tree called the red sandalwood. The top of the seed has been carefully removed and a carved elephant stopper put in its place. This elephant carefully guards your wishes inside the seed. There are a varying number of little elephant wishes inside, usually from about 7 to 12, although you will have to use a great deal of imagination to see anything resembling an elephant in the pieces. Seed measures 3/8 inch across and including elephant stopper, stands 1/2 inch tall. A great conversation piece and who knows?......perhaps your good luck awaits you here!
24 comments:
Seriously. That is amazing.
If you check Item #370290713706 on Ebay you will find them. Interesting!
Wow, I've never seen anything like it. Really cool :-)
That is neat. I have never seen that before.
cindy
Way Cool ! ! !
It could be a magical seed from India.
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plmar97.htm
Love them!!
What a wonderful tiny precious treasure you have. I've never seen or heard of these before. Hold them dear.
Thank you for sharing and have GRAND weekend.
G'day Jean
Woow what a treasure you have... fascinating story too... love how things all go together like this... OOroo... B
I had been given one of these back in the 1970's from a friend who travelled to India, Morroco and Africa. He said it was for good luck. My top/stopper was carved in the shape of an elephant and had 11 elephants. (12 including the topper).
My mum used to get them in India.I even had one with 12 various animals.
One with 50 elephants, but so small you need magnifying glass!!
my gran says she used to see them all the time in curio shops in south africa and i very recently found one in an antique shop. mine only has six elephants though!
I had never seen nor heard of them either, but found 5 of them at a yard sale yesterday for $1 a piece. I like the intricacy of them and the Hindu mythology story about them. I opened them and found different amounts in each but dispersed them evenly and will be giving my 3 adult children each one for prosperity.
I GOT ONE OF THOSE BACK IN 1990 IN CHINA TOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO !!! I THINK IT IS REALLY HARD TO FIND THEM TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE MADE OF IVORY WICH IS ILLEGAL THESE DAYS, JUST SAVE IT AS A PRECIOUS TREASURE CAUSE PROBABLY YOU WONT FIND THEM ANYMORE...
yes one of my relatives had one and I was searching for such a thing when I found your page...thanks for proving to me that I wasn't hallucinating LOL
I have one of these that I've had since I was a child, and I am 54! I have always LOVED it. Although I do not remember the story of it, I got in in one of my "World Explorers Club" packages that I so looked forward to. Thanks for the information I found on your blog!!
Karen
Oh my goodness - my aunt still has some of these from her old toy store in the 50's!
My Father brought one back from India in WW2. Great treasure
My Father brought one back from India in WW2. Great treasure
My dad brought me one after his 2nd tour in Vietnam.
Thanks for posting, I have only seen two in my lifetime. My parents had one that they got in their antique shop back when I was a child. Later on in life I was at a yard sale and got one in a jewelry box I bought. My husband thought I was nuts when I realized exactly what I had. I told him there were elephants in the bean. Of course he didn't believe me and I had to show him. I thought I had lost it in the many moves I have made over the years, but was thrilled to find it the other day. I showed my dad who is still alive and he said he doesn't know where his is, but he was going to look for it. His had 12 elephants in it and mine had 11. A true treasure to me.
I also have 5 of these if anyone is interested my mom got them in from her mom who was a teacher they came from the world explorer program which sent them for her students in 1965
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Are you interested in selling a couple? I'd love to purchase some depending on how much you'd sell them for. These are absolutely amazing and I'd be thrilled to own some.
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