Page 20 - Bonhams Catalog Cohen and Cohen Jan 24, 2023 New York

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A RARE PAIR OF LARGE FAMILLE ROSE SEPIA-BODIED The white elephant is a symbol of mental strength and purity, and
‘STANDING ELEPHANT’ CANDLESTICKS Buddhism, an image further enhanced by carrying a light on its back.
Qianlong period, circa 1770 In the Qing dynasty real elephants with vases on their backs were
Heavily potted standing looking to the left and right, their hides included in processions to celebrate the emperor’s birthday.
impressed with symmetrical horizontal grooves to simulate wrinkles
and enhanced naturalistically in sepia tones, the backs each covered In the late Neolithic period, some 4000 years ago, elephants roamed
in an elaborate saddlecloth supporting a gu-shaped vase enriched with widely across what is now the massive area of mainland China, but
green vertical blade lappets. by approximately 1200 BCE they had disappeared from north of
9 5/8in (24.3cm) high; 8 3/4in (22.2cm) wide (2). China’s great historical and horizontal geographical divide, the Yangtse
river. One thousand years later, during the Han period, they became
$15,000 - 20,000 prominent and valuable as fighting animals carrying fortified turrets on
their backs.
乾隆時期 約1770年 粉彩棕彩描金《太平有象》大件燭臺一對
But above all, it was their traditional association with the historical
Buddha, originating during the early years after he grew up in China
and widely recorded in the early sutras and Buddhist paintings, which
gave elephants a mystical significance to Chinese Buddhist followers.

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