A pair of gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel caparisoned elephants and stands, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period

Each finely cast in the form of an elephant carrying an auspicious double-gourd vase enclosing da and ji characters, this pair is remarkable for its brilliant 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 peace and with a vase (ping), it forms the wish taiping youxiang (peaceful times).

See also a pair of gilt-bronze elephants carrying a vase, 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.