White Jade, partly with caramel-colored inclusions
China, 18th century
Figure of an elephant in solid form
Excellently carved animal figure with its trunk tucked between the front legs and flat ears
Characteristically stylized wrinkles on the body and legs
Thick spherical feet
The stone of a dense white color with warm yellow-brown highlights
The natural veining of the stone is integrated into the composition of the figure
Dimensions: 9.4 x 13.5 cm
Weight: approx. 905 g
Very good condition
Provenance: Private collection, Bilbao

In Chinese art and culture the elephant is considered an auspicious symbol, which promises peace and prosperity. The Chinese character for elephant (xiang ?) is homonymous with the word meaning propitious (xiang ?).



The present elephant, with its paunchy and wrinkled form, is carved after examples from the Song and Ming period. Cf. a jade carving in the shape of an elephant in the collection of the Freer Sackler Collection, Smithsonian Institution, dated to the Song Dynasty (accession no.: S1987.825). See also the figure of a festively decorated elephant made of white jade in the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing and especially a figure of an elephant with the same color in the National Palace Museum Taipei, Taiwan.



Condition: The elephant is in very good condition. The dimensions are 9.4 x 13.5 cm (height x length). The weight is approx. 905 g.

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