Chryselephantine sculpture

Chryselephantin ( Greek: χρυσός ( Chrysos ) "Gold"; ἔλεφας, ἐλέφαντος (Elephas, Elephantos ) "elephant", "ivory" ) is in the narrow sense of a work of art made ​​of gold and ivory.

The technique was especially common in Ancient Greece and goes back to the 15th century BC. An approximately 40 cm high Minoan figure is made of wood, gold leaf, ivory, serpentine and lead crystal. The sculptures had a wooden core, which was covered with ivory tiles ( for the skin ), and (often in pieces ) removable gold pieces ( for Garments, shoes, hair ). Further decoration was realized with precious stones, precious metals, and glass, glass paste and painting.

The most famous gold and ivory statues of antiquity were of Zeus in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon in Athens, the Greek sculptor Phidias both.

In a broader sense, the term also many other combinations of metallic and non-metallic materials in sculpture as the basis came from the French centers of ivory carving in fashion since the early 19th century. From an art historical importance are especially produced in large editions in the era of Art Deco sculptures made ​​of ivory and bronze, which were often combined with other materials such as paint, enamel and lapis lazuli.