Hi – I found these two elephants at Goodwill. I thought they were unusual, but I’m trying to de-clutter, so, I’d like to figure out what they are and possibly sell them.

Size/Weight: The mama is 9 inches tall and wide and weighs 1 pound. The baby is 3.5 inches tall and wide and weighs 2.5 ounces.

Material: They look like they were made with some kind of papier mache technique, but I don’t think they are made of paper. Rather, it appears to be some kind of natural material (skin? bladder? intestines? or maybe handmade paper?) that was once wet and pliable. It was wrapped around some kind of light-weight core (looks like paper or straw in there?) and shaped into the elephant forms. Then it was dried. They don’t feel as fragile as papier mache, but it would definitely be possible to break them with your hands.

Color: As you can see from the pictures, the color is marbled – cream/tan mostly, with some dark brown/black.

Condition: The mama is cracked in a few places. The baby is solid.

Mark: There are no marks or signatures on mine. I’ve come across 3 others, but in each case they are in a post where the owner is asking for assistance identifying them. In one case, the owner says his is marked with “Hawaii” in a “marker-like stamp” on the bottom.

Any info on the origin or material or value is much appreciated!