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Lot Essay
Elephants were a popular theme in Chinese art. They represented the embodiment of strength, wisdom and intelligence. 'Elephant' in Chinese is 'xiang', which also sounds like the word for happiness. Saddle cloth, or 'an' in Chinese, is a homonym for peace. Hence, this model of an elephant would have conveyed an auspicious message of peace and happiness to the onlooker.
Porcelain models of elephants in the 18th century are more typically decorated in famille rose enamels and date to the Qianlong period (1736-1795). Earlier 18th century famille verte models of elephants are rare although elephants can be found depicted in famille verte enamels on vessels. A white lead glazed-model of a standing elephant (26 cm. long) dated to the Kangxi period is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, C.11-1959. A famille rose elephant and vase group from the Qianlong period is in the National Palace Musuem, Taipei, accession no. K1BO10711.
The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P121h57 (13 July 2021) is consistent with the dating of this lot.
Porcelain models of elephants in the 18th century are more typically decorated in famille rose enamels and date to the Qianlong period (1736-1795). Earlier 18th century famille verte models of elephants are rare although elephants can be found depicted in famille verte enamels on vessels. A white lead glazed-model of a standing elephant (26 cm. long) dated to the Kangxi period is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, C.11-1959. A famille rose elephant and vase group from the Qianlong period is in the National Palace Musuem, Taipei, accession no. K1BO10711.
The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. P121h57 (13 July 2021) is consistent with the dating of this lot.