éléphant et enfants en jade blanc sculpté Chine, dynastie Qing, XVIIIE siècle

le pachyderme caparaçonné debout la tête tournée vers la gauche, le tapis de selle décoré d'une chauve-souris en vol au dessus de flots tumultueux, un enfant monté sur son dos une brosse à la main, un autre un genou à terre lui présentant un vase, socle en bois

The Whitaker Family Collection.
Christie's London, 6th July 1983, lot 502.

Sotheby's New York, 18th March 2008, lot 180.

 

A natural vertical white line inclusion to the rear of the elephant extending across the left thigh of the children brushing its back, another smaller vertical white line inclusion next to it, otherwise in good condition. The actual colour of the stone is a fraction more pale celadon than the illustration would suggest in the catalogue.
"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 motif of 'The Cleaning of the Elephant', as discussed by Zhang Hongxing in The Qianlong Emperor, Treasures from the Forbidden City, Edinburgh, 2002, p. 111, alludes to the Buddhist theme of washing oneself clean of worldly illusions, as the Chinese words for elephant and illusion, xiang, are homophones. Zhang also discusses the Qianlong emperor's fascination with this subject upon the rediscovery of a painting treating this theme during a palace inventory in 1745.

A second theme is suggested by the close relationship of the present work to others depicting an elephant with children holding a vase, signifying the rebus tai ping jing xiang ('peace on the land' or 'peace and prosperous future').

For similar works, compare the group illustrated in Yang Boda, A Romance with Jade, From the De An Tang Collection, 2004, no. 87, p. 147, and another sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 22nd May 1984, lot 227. Compare also the group from the collection of the T. B. Walker Foundation, sold in these rooms, 20th October 1988, lot 226; and the group sold at Christie's New York, 29th November 1990, lot 348. See also the group published in Chinese Jade Animals, The Urban Council of Hong Kong, 1996, n°177, p.184-185.