Elk Figurine Realistic Wildlife Sculpture

The rack is the reason to own this one and also the reason to handle it by the body. Seven inches of height on an eight inch animal is almost all antler, molded as separate sweeping tines rather than a solid mass, and that openwork is what makes the silhouette read across a room. It is also the narrowest material in the piece.

• Antlers molded open. Separate tines off a main beam, not a filled in shape.
• Seven inches tall. On a body around 8 long, an unusual ratio for a hoofed figure.
• Crisp rump edge. The pale patch is masked cleanly rather than blurred into the flank.
• Lift by the body. The tines are the thinnest part, so carry it from underneath.

Handling a Tined Rack

Open antlers are what make this worth having and what make it worth carrying carefully. Picked up by the head, a figure like this puts all its leverage through the thinnest section of the casting, so lift from under the belly and it will outlast everything else on the shelf. Dust it with a soft brush rather than a cloth, which snags on the points.

What the Pale Patch Does

The cream rump is not styling. Elk move through timber at low light and the animal behind follows the pale patch of the one in front, which makes it a taillight rather than a marking. On a figure this size that patch is only worth including if its edge is kept sharp, and here it is.

Two Names, One Animal

Wapiti is a Shawnee and Cree word, and North America ended up using two names because European settlers arrived already calling something else an elk. The hangtag that comes in the box carries the naming in five languages, which is more than most figures bother with.

Questions About the Elk Figure

How fragile are the antlers? They are the thinnest section, so lift the figure from the body rather than the head.

How tall does it stand? Around 7 inches to the antler tip, on a body about 8 inches long.

What is it made from? PVC that is lead and phthalate free and checked by independent labs.

Is this a moose? No. An elk carries branched tines; a moose carries broad flat blades.