This hollow papier-mâché elephant is made in two parts. The head is separate from the body and hooks on to two small pegs in the neck and is weighted so that it nods gently in an amusing, charming way. The simplicity of the mechanism (weighted head and simple pins) is very effective.

Dynamic toys, like this one, which demonstrate simple scientific concepts are an Indian tradition and were sold at fairs and melas, though Mane Kumria from Soma Books, London says that ‘though we used to get a lot of such toys from street vendors in India this tradition has now virtually disappeared’.

The surface of the elephant is painted black with decorative patterns in red, ochre, green and white in a traditional Indian art style. It is a fine example, too, of the versatility of papier-mâché.