A Jade 'Boy and Elephant' Group Carving Ming Dynasty

carved as an elephant standing foursquare with its head turned towards its left, its wrinkled skin, curved tusks and hairy tail naturalistically depicted, set with a boy sitting astride it while holding a treasure vase (bao ping) in both hands, his right elbow resting on his bent right knee with his head turned over his left shoulder, the stone of an opaque milky-white tone mottled with icy inclusions and dark streaks

The Rothschild Family Collection.

85th Anniversary Exhibition of Chinese Jades from Tang to Qing, Marchant, London, 2010, p. 110, no. 82 

The overall condition is good. There are small nibbles around the finial of the vase and four minute nicks to the rim of the cover, the longest measuring 0.5 cm. The actual colour is a tinge greyer than the catalogue illustration.
"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."

A closely related jade representation of two boys washing an elephant in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing is illustrated by Yang Boda, The Collection of Chinese Jades from the Palace Museum, Beijing, vol. 9, 1986, pp. 181-182, no. 309, and illustrated on the cover.