The jumbo in question, Mademoiselle D’Jeck, performed all over the world, first creating a sensation in July 1829 in Paris, where she appeared at the Cirque Olympique in a performance entitled L’éléphant du Roi de Siam.
She drew admiring crowds at the Adelphi Theatre in London before travelling around England.
Body and a trunk
In 1830, as Mademoiselle D’Jeck was on a road journey from Edinburgh to Newcastle, where she was booked to appear at the town’s Theatre Royal, accounts report that her keeper, Jean Baptiste, struck her with a harpoon-like stick.
D’Jeck retaliated and crushed Baptiste to death in her stall. Weirdly, the elephant was charged with her murder, put on trial and let off with a fine of five shillings (25p).
“Weirdly, the elephant was charged with her murder,put on trial and let off with a fine of fiveshillings (25p)
Dealer Robert Pugh, Towy Events’ organiser, will be offering the plate for £75 at the fair held at the Carmarthen Showground in Wales on Thursday, December 28.
The plate has its title The Great Performer of the Adelphi.
Pugh says: “The poor elephant was forced to flee the country amid fears the court might change its mind. Forgotten by a public that had once revered her, Mademoiselle D’Jeck ended her days in Geneva in 1837.”
There will be lighter ceramic touches at the 200-stand antiques and fleamarket which traditionally has a focus on Welsh collectables.
