Featured UNUSUAL OLD ELEPHANT PUPPET - TOY? PROFESSIONAL?

Found this last week. Has the most unusual neck connection! Also the nails there makes me think this may have some age.
Any ideas what this was for; toy or stage? Seems like a lot of work to the neck for a toy?
Also there is something written on one foot; maybe an autograph?
I had to ask because this is the most unusual elephant I've seen!
Thanks all

 

It resembles this one that has a Made In Thailand label.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/582461512/wood-elephant-marionette-elephant

 

Very doubtful of 1970s date.

Debora

 

I'm going to be watching this. I have a "cat" marionette similarly constructed, but a bit older looking. It was a gift from my son in the 80's (probably picked out by his dad who often shopped at "Asian arts and antiques" places in DC in that period.) The ropes look thinner and more worn. The neck is the same idea, but the the cane pieces are thinner too. Different shape and rope attachment for the bar.

 

Debora, where did you see 70's date? I looked at listing & didn't see it there?
You don't think by the nails used in the neck area that this is from 70's - or even 60's? Then I won't add a date - I can say vintage right?

 

Link above dates to 1960s, Etsy link dates to 1970s. I'd disagree with both. IMHO new or new-ish.

Debora

 

Can't help you date, but if you search on "burmese elephant puppet", you'll find a bunch.

edit: "thai elephant puppet" also works

 

Good grief! There aren't enough marionette theaters in all the world to accommodate that number of fill-in-the-country antique-vintage-old elephant puppets on offer.

Debora

 

And now they're from the 1920s and as far afield as México (a country known for both it's marionettes and elephants.) I think modern Asian decorative object is sufficient. IMHO.

Debora

 

Totally unrelated, but awesome thing I found because of this thread:

http://www.circus1903.com/

 

Agree, I wouldn't dwell too much on age. It is not an antique, and whether 1960s or 70s doesn't really matter that much.
What sells is that they are elephants, and who doesn't like elephants?
These elephant puppets were probably already made in the 1400s and still made today. Traditional is a good term to use, as is vintage, which would apply in this case imo.

Not sure the 1920s one is that old. It looks antiqued to me. And a week in the water of the klongs of Bangkok will probably give it the same look.

 

lol