Page 52 - Sotheby's Arts of Asia Paris, June 16, 2022

The present group of cloisonné elephant supporting a foreign 此組掐絲琺瑯胡人騎象擺件造工精美，展示乾隆年間宮廷琺瑯
rider is a superb example of the high level of artistic and 作坊藝匠之精湛工藝，象身皮膚褶皺線條均勻細膩，象轎裝飾華
technical achievement of artists working in the imperial 貴，從中可見此時期琺瑯器規格極高，精益求精。騎象與吉祥讀
enamel workshop Zao Ban Chu located in the Forbidden 法相近，故本擺件又寓「太平有象」。
City during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1735-96). 對比一對乾隆年製掐絲琺瑯大象擺件作例，尺寸龐大，出自倫
The even and finely executed lines depicting the folds in the 敦Partridge (Fine Arts) Ltd，1988年，售於倫敦佳士得2013年5月14
skin and the elaborate design on the howdah are testament 日，編號143。另比一帶蓋香爐例，兩跪伏胡人高舉香爐，售於
to the excellence and the perfect control of manufacture 蘇富比Easton Neston拍賣2005 年 5 月 18 日，拍品 771 ，後易手
of Qianlong cloisonné. The theme of riding an elephant is 於香港邦瀚斯2012 年 5 月 27 日，拍品 12，可見乾隆年間掐絲琺
particularly auspicious because of the pun on the term 瑯器，以胡人造型顯示貴氣。掐絲琺瑯騎象擺件甚爲珍罕，唯可
qixiang (to ride an elephant), which sounds similar to jixiang 參考倫敦蘇富比出售一組作例，兩名騎象者手持寶瓶，售於1982
(good fortune). 年 3 月 12 日，編號 199。
Compare a pair of large cloisonné enamel caparisoned
elephant from the Qianlong reign, originally with Partridge
(Fine Arts) Ltd, London, 1988, sold at Christie’s London,
14th May 2013, lot 143. The taste for large cloisonné vessels
enhanced by foreign figures during Qianlong’s reign can
also be seen in the monumental imperial cloisonné incense
burner and cover, supported by two kneeling foreigners, sold
at Sotheby’s Easton Neston Sale, 18th May 2005, lot 771 and
more recently at Bonham’s Hong Kong, 27th May 2012, lot 12.
Cloisonné elephants with riders are extremely rare, although
a group of elephant and two riders holding a kalasha was sold
in our London rooms, 12th March 1982, lot 199.

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