QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

The elephant is an auspicious symbol which is used in numerous rebuses to convey peace, prosperity and good fortune. Compare to another nephrite carved elephant with children and ruyi, from the collection of the Beijing Palace Museum, illustrated in Jadeware (III), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 97. The white elephant is also one of the seven treasures of Buddhism, and the reference to Buddhism is given further emphasis by the decoration of lotus petals encircling the blanket on its back.

A Qianlong white jade example of an elephant carrying a vase with similar posture and embellishment was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 October 2002, lot 617.