Important Chinese Art
Important Chinese Art
A GILT-BRONZE, CLOISONNE AND CHAMPLEVE ENAMEL 'ELEPHANT AND VASE' GROUP QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD | 清乾隆 掐絲及鏨胎琺瑯太平有象
Auction Closed
November 6, 06:16 PM GMT
Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A GILT-BRONZE, CLOISONNE AND CHAMPLEVE ENAMEL 'ELEPHANT AND VASE' GROUP
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
清乾隆 掐絲及鏨胎琺瑯太平有象
standing foursquare with its head gently turned to one side, supported on its back with a turquoise-ground archaistic form vase on a double lotus base, its well rounded body caparisoned with ornamental trappings set with semi-precious stones, a tasseled saddle draped with a turquoise-ground cloth detailed with diaper pattern, all raised on a balustraded octagonal lotus stand supported on ruyi-form feet
Height 23.9 cm, 9⅜ in.
Finely cast in the form of an elephant carrying a vase, this piece is remarkable for its brilliant combination of champlevé and cloisonné enamels. Figures of elephants carrying vases were usually made in pairs, and often displayed in throne rooms where they functioned as auspicious omens. The elephant (xiang) is a symbol of piece and with a vase (ping), it forms the wish taiping youxiang (peaceful times).
The pair to this piece was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th November 2011, lot 3174. See also gilt-bronze elephants carrying a vase, similarly decorated with elements in cloisonné and champlevé enamels such as a pair sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2010, lot 2618; another sold in these rooms, 1st July 1969, lot 31; and an elephant sold in our Monaco rooms, 13th February 1983, lot 377, and again at Christie’s London, 7th November 2006, lot 109. See also a larger elephant and vase group in the collection of the Summer Palace, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu fenlei quanji. Zhongguo jinyin boli falang qi quanji, [Complete Book of Gold and Silver Wares, Glass Wares and Cloisonné Enamels Volume], vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 2002, pl. 281.