(Circus Elephants), (sculpture). - San Antonio, TX USA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

These two elephants have been associated with the Witte Museum for multiple decades. They have recently been repaired and refurbished with needed upgrades and fresh paint. The elephant with the dominate red decorations on her back and head scarf was given the name "Cinnamon Kandy" and the companion elephant sculpture with blue decorations was given the boy's rhyming name of "Doodle Dandy."

Prior to the Witte Museum obtaining this pair of elephant sculptures, they belonged to the popular Hertzberg Circus Museum's collection that was in downtown San Antonio, TX. At some point in the past, the elephants were acquired by the Witte Museum.

The Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) has these elephants listed as the pair of elephants that used to grace the entrance into the Witte Museum. which they did until fairly recently. According to SIRIS records, the elephants were created circa 1935 and "one of the elephants was formerly property of Harry Hertzberg and was located in his front yard. The other belonged to another donor who purchased it in 1945-1950 from Goliad Street (now Hemisfair Plaza)." Both elephants represent Indian/Asian elephants that are decorated as circus elephants with a large. colorful design of a blanket over their backs and a similarly decorated head scarf painted on each of their heads. The size and characteristics of the sculptures are the same now as they always have been. Both are about 3 feet tall and 3.5 feet long. Both have tusks, but the "Doodle Dandy" boy elephant had only very short stubs for tusks and during the renovation, his tusks were painted over with gray paint. The bumps that represent his tusks are apparent if you look for them. Both of their trunks are raised up in a curved "S" shape above their heads. Their feet are positioned as if walking, but all four feet are on the ground.

Some time fairly recent, probably in conjunction to their renovations, a plaque was added on the base, under the respective heads of each of the two elephants. One poem described one elephant as the girl elephant who was sister to the other elephant. A separate plaque on the other elephant (the boy who is described as the brother of the girl elephant) was attached in the corresponding location under his head, on his base.

The "Cinnamon Kandy" plaque reads as follows:

"Cinnamon Kandy Is The Name
Of This Asian Elephant Of Hertzberg Fame

She Greets All Ages At The Door
And Hopes They Will Return For More

'Cause The Witte Museum Is The Place To Be
For Infol On Science And History!

Poem by Judy Bolner
Named by the Bolner Family Of San Antonio
2006"


The "Doodle Dany" plaque reads as follows:

"Guarding The Path
Of Adventure Walk,
Standing Silent,
He'll Never Talk.

Cinnamon Kandy's Bro Is Here,
Watching Witte Guests
From Far And Near.

So Welcome Her Bro
Of Hertzberg Fame
Doodle Dandy Is His Name.

Poem by Judy Bolner
Named by the Bolner Family Of San Antonio
2016"

TITLE: (Circus Elephants), (sculptures) ARTIST(S): Julian Sandoval, sculptor DATE: ca. 1936 MEDIUM: Painted concrete on a concrete base CONTROL NUMBER: IAS TX000126 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: The B. Naylor Morton Research and Collection Center 3737 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209 USA DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: The two elephants are still a pair, but they are in front of a different part of the Witte Museum. They now stand in front of the B. Naylor Morton Research and Collection Center at 3737 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 7820. The elephants are facing toward the new entrance to the Witte Museum, across the street from where they used to be displayed. The poetically descriptive plaques have been added to the bases between 2006 and/or 2016.

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Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.

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Date Logged Log   04/03/2021 WayBetterFinder visited it