Page 147 - Christies September 13 to 14th Fine Chinese Works of Art New York

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Elephants with two boy attendants were popular
subject matter for jade carving in the Qing
dynasty, as the elephant is an auspicious symbol
used in numerous rebuses to convey peace,
prosperity and good fortune. The white elephant
is also one of the seven treasures of Buddhism,
and the reference to Buddhism is given further
emphasis by the decoration of lotus petals
encircling the blanket on its back.
Compare a carved jade elephant with children
and ruyi, from the collection of the Beijing Palace
Museum, illustrated in The Complete Collection of
Treasures of the Palace Museum - 42 - Jadeware
(III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 97. Compare, also
a related white jade carving sold at Christie’s
London, 14 May 2013, lot 81.

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