Trendlet Alert: Elephants

Clockwise from top left: Areaware Mini Elephant Cushion; Alkemie Elephant Cuff; Kay Bojesan

Clockwise from top left: Elephant and Flower - 2008, photo collage - archival digital c print (limited edition);  M Design; A guest room in a Boston condo; "Elephant" puppet musical at The New Victory Theater in New York City; Elephants in Central Park - 2009, photo collage - archival digital c print (limited edition); M Design; M Design; Artist Lee Essex Doyle's sketchbook 

Its Roots: Elephants have long reigned in pop culture, from Disney’s Dumbo, Dr. Seuss’s Horton and Jean de Brunhoff’s Babar, to Richard Avedon’s memorable photograph “Dovima with Elephants” shot for Harper’s Bazaar in 1955. Danish designer Kay Bojesen, an apprentice of Georg Jensen who was famous for his wooden toys, created an oak elephant in 1951 that is still produced today. And let us not forget 1998 Turner Prize winning artist Chris Offili, best known for his paintings using elephant dung.

Seen Now: Elephants continue to hold fascination. Children’s author/illustrator David McKee enjoys tremendous success with his brightly, patchworked pachyderm, Elmer. Photographer Jessica Biales creates magical photo collages incorporating calico elephants—created from her daughter’s favorite shirt—into real world scenes, like Central Park. Street artists also have a thing for the beasts. There’s Shepard Fairey’s “Obey Elephant.” And Banksy, with his pink and gold graffiti-ed elephant featured in the newly released documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. The New Victory Theater in New York City recently staged a musical performance, complete with life-size puppets, called simply “Elephant.”

As for products, they’re all over the place. Lucky Magazine printed a round up of half a dozen elephant items back in January. We’ve discovered a whole lot more, including Gio bedding by DwellStudio that’s inspired by Danish and Italian toys of the ‘60s and ‘70s, a cutting board with a similar silhouette from Brooklyn boutique Fred Flare, and an adorable recycled watering can from Sprout Home. We even came across a company called PooPooPaper (that manufacturers earth friendly paper products from, yup, elephant poo). And Alkemie jewelry designer Dara Gerson creates regal elephant cuffs from 100% reclaimed metal, that’s been a bestseller.

Loved By: Los Angeles based designer Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design is an elephant enthusiast, to say the least. We spotted five images in her portfolio showcasing them. There’s the one of Luetkemeyer’s own master bathroom, in which a little elephant she found in India is perched on the vanity, as well as an image of actress Julie Bowen’s master bathroom, which boasts a wicker elephant Luetkemeyer found on an excursion in Palm Springs. She appreciates the texture and juxtaposition its natural material provides against the concrete tub. Luetkemeyer also hung an elephant painting by Dutch Touch Art Company, which she loves, in Bowen’s dining room. Finally, there’s an elephant planter on Luetkemeyer’s terrace.

“I didn’t realize how much I had incorporated elephants into my design . . . I guess it might be time to give another animal a chance! It’s hard, though, because elephants are so badass. Anyone who has actually seen one is captivated by the elephants’ size and gentle nature (unless you mess with their kids!). I have had the good fortune of going to both Africa and India, and was able to see these magnificent creatures in the flesh. The experience has clearly impacted me more than I knew. I actually just got a call from my refinisher that my elephant console table is ready. Crimey, I guess I do have an elephant fetish!”

 Elephants on eBay