A WHITE JADE CARVING OF AN ELEPHANT EARLY MING DYNASTY

finely carved in the round as a small elephant standing four-square with its trunk curling up to the foreleg between projecting tusks, with naturalistic markings to the feet, ears and tail and accented with incised wrinkles, the stone of an even tone throughout mottled with small areas of dark brown

Exquisite Jade Carving, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 104.
Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 158.

The elephant is in very good condition. There is some natural black speckling to the stone. The colour of the stone is slightly more celadon than the illustration depicts.
"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 present piece is an excellent example of the carver's ability to model a naturalistic figure with minimal unnecessary waste of the good stone. Carved with grooves in sets of three and with an incised tail, the solid depiction of the elephant embodies the strength, power and wisdom it symbolises. Iconographically this carving is contemporaneous with two pairs of monumental stone elephants lining the Spirit Road at Mingxiaoling, Nanjing.

A similarly carved elephant in the Seattle Art Museum, is illustrated in James C. Y. Watt, Chinese Jades from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, 1989, pl. 54; two were included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, one from the collection of Ip Yee, cat. no. 151, and the other from the collection of Philip Chu, cat. no. 153; and another was sold in our New York rooms, 10^th November 1979, lot 160.

One of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, elephant is a sacred figure in Buddhist art appeared frequently in images of the Ming period. It is also the bearer of the wish-granting gem and is said to understand human speech.