Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
924-38
Date(s)
- 1935 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
ca. 1935. Ray Gamble at home with his collection of carved elephants, arranged around the Walker Cut Stone fireplace for his two visitors. So large and so valuable was the collection that his home became known as "The Elephant House." During his lifetime, Mr. Gamble amassed the world's largest elephant collection. It was comprised of over 3,000 elephants that paraded through all the rooms of his house. They were carved from stone, teak, ivory, jade and quartz and set with precious stones. Some were rare works of art that had taken years to create that stood side by side with plastic ones from the dimestore. They varied in size from smaller than a man's hand to 500 pound bronze giants. In additions to elephants, Gamble also collected dice and ceramic tiles. (Seattle Times 2/18/1968; TNT 11/21/1965)
Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972--Homes & haunts; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Collectors--Tacoma; Elephants;