Stamped Silver Ingot

This silver alloy ingot is cast in the form of an elongated bar, with a slender, rectangular shape and curved ends. Resembling a shallow dish or incense stand, the ingot has a concave surface stamped with four round medallions of a three-headed elephant. This motif represents the Hindu god Erawan and was the symbol of the royal government of the Kingdom of Laos. Likely minted in the mid-20th century, this silver bar lives on as a storied object and a token from the past.