Page 85 - Christie's Asian Art Auctions PARIS December 2019

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RARE GROUPE D'ELEPHANT EN JADE BEIGE ET ROUILLE This scene of washing the elephant is a popular one, and can be
CHINE, CIRCA XVIIEME SIECLE found as the subject of a jade group in the Palace Museum, Beijing,
Il est représenté debout sur ses quatre pattes au-dessus des fots, la illustrated in Jadeware (III), The Complete Collection of Treasures of
tête et la trompe tournées vers le côté. Les défenses, les yeux et les the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 98; and depicted on a jade
oreilles sont sculptés en léger relief. Son dos est surmonté de deux table screen, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 26 April 2004, lot 1225.
jeunes garçons rieurs qui nettoient l'animal, tenant chacun un balai et
une brosse. The elephant is an auspicious animal associated with Buddhism, and
Longueur: 12 cm. (4æ in.)
is used in numerous rebuses to convey peace, prosperity and good
fortune. In the present example, the signifcance of the washing is
€50,000-70,000 US$56,000-78,000
translated into a wish for great happiness. The subject matter of
£44,000-61,000
this group is also a lively depiction of an every day scene, and is very
A RARE BEIGE AND RUSSET JADE ‘ELEPHANT AND BOYS’ much in keeping with the spirit of decoration found on porcelains of
GROUP the same period.
CHINA, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY
約十七世紀 褐玉帶皮童子洗象擺件

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