A RARE PAIR OF ZITAN 'BOY AND ELEPHANT' CANDLESTICKSQING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD |

each well carved in mirror image of the other, depicting a cherubic boy kneeling atop a recumbent elephant with arms wrapped around an archaistic gu vessel, gnarled branches bearing lingzhi blooms issuing from the vessel and surmounted by a cylindrical pin for securing a metal plate, the boy further rendered with a cheerful expression and dressed in loose robes, the elephant naturalistically accentuated with folds of wrinkles and portrayed with the head turned backwards, all supported on a stand with a lobed apron and carved with scrollwork