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Lot Essay
The present elephants are covered overall in a white enamel ground decorated with colourful cloisonné lotus scrolls. Each supports an elaborate jewelled saddle cloth surmounted by a red vase, the word ping (vase) forming a rebus with xiang (elephant) for the auspicious expression taiping youxiang (“Great Peace Manifested by Elephants”). The vivid red vases further reinforce associations of prosperity, happiness and good fortune.
Over time, the elephant, as an auspicious emblem, together with the vase symbolising peace and stability, became an important decorative motif within the Qing court, signifying harmonious rule and prosperity throughout the empire. Works of this type were likely displayed in important palace halls within the Forbidden City during New Year celebrations or imperial birthday festivities as auspicious imperial ornaments.
A pair of very similar cloisonné enamel elephants displayed on closely related stands appears in situ in a photograph of the Dowager Empress Cixi’s bedroom, illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Ming Qing Gongting Jiaju Daquan (Furniture of the Ming and Qing Palaces as Collected in the Palace Museum), Beijing, 2006, p. 698, fig. 800.
Over time, the elephant, as an auspicious emblem, together with the vase symbolising peace and stability, became an important decorative motif within the Qing court, signifying harmonious rule and prosperity throughout the empire. Works of this type were likely displayed in important palace halls within the Forbidden City during New Year celebrations or imperial birthday festivities as auspicious imperial ornaments.
A pair of very similar cloisonné enamel elephants displayed on closely related stands appears in situ in a photograph of the Dowager Empress Cixi’s bedroom, illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Ming Qing Gongting Jiaju Daquan (Furniture of the Ming and Qing Palaces as Collected in the Palace Museum), Beijing, 2006, p. 698, fig. 800.