清十八世紀 銅象像

standing four square with head turned to one side, adorned with beaded chains, jewels and a blanket finely incised with scrolling lotus, a ruyi-collar encircling the aperture in the back

The ridge around the aperture in the back was probably intended to fit into the base of a vase, as the motif of an elephant with a vase on its back forms the rebus taiping jingxiang (portent of a peaceful age). An 18th century gilt-bronze example sold in our New York rooms, 31st March and 1st April 2005, lot 236.