A SET OF SPINACH-GREEN JADE ALTAR VESSELS QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the set of three vessels including a pair of elephants, each adorned across the body with bejewelled garlands studded with pearls and hardstones, caparisonned with a saddle cloth draped over its back and supporting a vase similarly decorated with hardstones and flanked at the sides by a pair of animal mask loop handles suspending loose rings, the neck incised with lotus scrolls, the censer comprising three parts, the body supported on three elephant-head feet similarly embellished with hardstones and flanked at the sides by a pair of elephant-heads, the domed cover pierced around the sides with lotus scrolls and surmounted by a recumbent elephant supporting an elaborate finial with a ferocious dragon, the stand of triangular form decorated around the sides with a lotus lappet border and a writhing dragon to the centre, the jade of a deep spinach-green mottled with darker green inclusions

Christie's London, 21st October 1974, lot 45.
Christie's London, 15th July 1981, lot 269.

There are some very minor chips and fritting to the edges of the pieces. Some of the embellishment has fallen off while some may have been replaced. The overall condition is very good.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The elephant in China is one of the seven Buddhist Sacred Treasures and symbolises peace. The combination of an elephant (xiang) and a vase (ping), which can often be found on the elephant's back, is a reference to 'peaceful times (taiping youxiang)'. A closely related elephant with inlaid decoration in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jade Ware III, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 114, and a detail, p. 140. Compare also a white jade carving from the De An Tang collection, included in the exhibition A Romance with Jade from the De An Tang Collection, Palace Museum, Beijing, 2004, cat. no. 83; and a spinach-green elephant censer supporting a pagoda on its back, sold in our London rooms, 29^th November 1977, lot 253.

Although it is extremely rare to find censers with the body supported on elephant head legs, this form is common in various other materials such as cloisonné, for example the censer sold in these rooms, 9th October 2007, lot 1308.