Did anybody know, what this ancient signature means? What language?

[Ulli]

A friend told me it could be from India.

[SW]

Looks like Chinese mixed with Arabic?! I don't know.

[✡ Hindu Zionist ॐ]

its not Sanskrit, must be from Orient

[syyuge]

India has 18 official languages and nearly thousand of unofficial languages, however at first glance it does not look like Indian.

It looks like ornamentally designed AR or may be from Japan. But do we know the directional orientation of these words?

[Ulli]

India has 18 official languages and nearly thousand of unofficial languages, however at first glance it does not look like Indian.

It looks like ornamentally designed AR or may be from Japan. But do we know the directional orientation of these words?

 Sorry, I have no idea.

[syyuge]

India has 18 official languages and nearly thousand of unofficial languages, however at first glance it does not look like Indian.

It looks like ornamentally designed AR or may be from Japan. But do we know the directional orientation of these words?

 Sorry, I have no idea.

How much old is it expected?

[Ulli]

India has 18 official languages and nearly thousand of unofficial languages, however at first glance it does not look like Indian.

It looks like ornamentally designed AR or may be from Japan. But do we know the directional orientation of these words?

 Sorry, I have no idea.

How much old is it expected?

My friend told me at least 100 years.

[Ulli]

Here is another picture:

[syyuge]

About 100 years old toy elephant may be mostly from India and AR may be the English initials of the customer inscribed by the artist, may be Andrew Ronald or similar. Just a guess.
 

[Ulli]

About 100 years old toy elephant may be mostly from India and AR may be the English initials of the customer inscribed by the artist, may be Andrew Ronald or similar. Just a guess.
 

Could be - didn't sound so crazy. 

[mord]

Looks expensive

[angryChineseKahanist]

Ancient?
Does it have a sticker "Made in China"?
Looks like something you got from a store.

[Ulli]

Ancient?
Does it have a sticker "Made in China"?
Looks like something you got from a store.

It is not my elephant. 

Is the gravure Chinese? Are you able to read it?

[angryChineseKahanist]

Ancient?
Does it have a sticker "Made in China"?
Looks like something you got from a store.

It is not my elephant. 

Is the gravure Chinese? Are you able to read it?

Ancient my arse!!
Let me rotate that. It is Chinese.
I can't really read Chinese. But I do recognise that it's modern Chinese.
C'mon tell the truth. You went to a toy store.

I used to be able to look up words by the number of strokes, but I've lost it. Sorry. I'll ask around.

[Ulli]

Ancient?
Does it have a sticker "Made in China"?
Looks like something you got from a store.

It is not my elephant. 

Is the gravure Chinese? Are you able to read it?

Ancient my arse!!
Let me rotate that. It is Chinese.
I can't really read Chinese. But I do recognise that it's modern Chinese.
C'mon tell the truth. You went to a toy store.

I used to be able to look up words by the number of strokes, but I've lost it. Sorry. I'll ask around.

Oh thank you so much. 

[cjd]

Here is another picture:

Something about the finish on this elephant statue tells me that its not so old...Then again it depends on what its made out of. Over the years I have collected hundreds of elephant statues like that. It's hard to say with some of the older ones that are carved out of marble or stone of some sort because after they are cleaned up a bit they always look like the day they were made. This often makes it hard to tell if its very old or something out of the Pier One Imports store. The tool marks on them as well as markings like the on the one you have would go a long way in telling how old something like that really is.

[syyuge]

It is interesting. Whatever is the outcome, please let us know.
 

[Ulli]

Here is another picture:

Something about the finish on this elephant statue tells me that its not so old...Then again it depends on what its made out of. Over the years I have collected hundreds of elephant statues like that. It's hard to say with some of the older ones that are carved out of marble or stone of some sort because after they are cleaned up a bit they always look like the day they were made. This often makes it hard to tell if its very old or something out of the Pier One Imports store. The tool marks on them as well as markings like the on the one you have would go a long way in telling how old something like that really is.

The material is bronze.

[syyuge]

Bronze Elephant.... This Elephants looks like Indian and not African because of a single lip at its trunk and not double lip. So it may be mostly somewhere from Asia including India.

[cjd]

Bronze indeed makes it a more interesting piece. At first seeing the picture it seemed to be made of some sort of composite material that's only been in use for the last 20 years. Bronze opens the possibility that the thing may be as old as your friend claims. Lets see if any of the other members can make heads or tails out of the mark on the elephants foot.

[pennyjangle]

Get it appraised then you'll know for sure.

[Ari Ben-Canaan]

WHAT QUESTIONS CAN JTF NOT ANSWER!?!?

[Ulli]

WHAT QUESTIONS CAN JTF NOT ANSWER!?!?

Where in the world you have people from so many backgrounds? 

[angryChineseKahanist]

Wife say name Chinese artist.
Elephant make jade, maybe.

It's two words. The artist: Xing Gong.
I have no idea who that is.
It's simplified Chinese.

So, yes, it's a signature.

[Ulli]

Wife say name Chinese artist.
Elephant make jade, maybe.

It's two words. The artist: Xing Gong.
I have no idea who that is.
It's simplified Chinese.

So, yes, it's a signature.

Thank you so much! I just phoned my friend.