- 3758
A RUSSET JADE 'ELEPHANT' GROUP YUAN – MING DYNASTY
Estimate
600,000 - 800,000 HKD
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Description
- jade
the saddled beast standing foursquare, its lowered head detailed with narrow almond-shaped eyes and a curled trunk between pointed tusks, caparisoned with an elaborate long tasseled rug incised with diaper and key-fret bands, with one foreigner clambering atop its back and another perched on its hind leg, the stone of a beige tone flecked with russet
Provenance
Collection of H.R.H. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974), acquired in Asia, 1929-1935.
Christie's Paris, 10th December 2014, lot 5.
Christie's Paris, 10th December 2014, lot 5.
Condition
The group is in overall good condition with just insignificant nicks to the edges of the extremities, the largest an approx. 0.5 cm shallow chip to the stick held by the foreigner at the rear of the elephant. There are russet streaks to the reverse.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The elephant is associated with the mythical Shun Emperor, one of the twenty-four paragons of filial piety, and also the mount for the Buddhist Deity Samantabhadra. The motif of boys riding or climbing on an elephant represents the wish for good fortune, as the phrase 'ride an elephant' is close in pronunciation to 'good fortune' (jixiang). A carving of two boys washing the back of an elephant, its head turned slightly to the front, attributed to the Yuan or Ming period, was sold at Christie's New York, 23rd March 1995, lot 207.
A similarly carved figure of an elephant with saddlecloth, but with head turned, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, London, 1975, cat. no. 363; and another from the Guan-fu collection was included in the exhibition Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1980, cat. no. 57, where it is noted that the zig-zag pattern on the saddlecloth are typical patterns of Ming brocade.