A CELADON JADE CARVING OF A SLEEPING ELEPHANT QING DYNASTY

It is rare to find carvings of elephants where the material has been used to great effect in its whole rounded form. The animal has an air of peaceful tranquility that is achieved by the fine carving and skillful use of the jade. See a related carving of a reclining elephant illustrated in Roger Keverne, Jade, London, 1991, fig.70.

Stylistically the present carving closely follows Song prototypes; see a Song carving of a reclining elephant included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, p. 124, cat. no. 100.