A Fine Celadon and Russet Jade 'Boy and Elephant' Group. Qing dynasty, Qianlong Period - Photo Sotheby's

the elephant standing four square with its head turned sharply to the right, ornately adorned with beaded jewellery and a saddle decorated with floral and fruiting sprays issuing from jagged rocks, the back supporting a boy crouching over a jardinière of wannianqing, and another boy holding a leafy peony branch standing beside, the stone of a greyish celadon tone stained with russet markings; 14cm., 5 1/2 in. Estimation: 40,000 - 60,000 GBP

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: The present carving depicts the popular and charming scene of boys clambering on the back of an elephant. The playfulness of the subject is heightened by the warm tones and natural russet inclusions while the solidity of the elephant has been skilfully balanced with the animated boys and fine detailing, as seen in the elephant’s wrinkled body and saddlecloth, and potted plant. A related carving of two boys with an elephant surmounted by a potted plant, published in Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 170, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th November 2007, lot 1562. Compare also a similarly carved elephant being washed by two boys, included in the exhibition A Romance with Jade. From the De An Tang Collection, Palace Museum, Beijing, 2004, cat. no. 89.

The inclusion of numerous auspicious motifs imbues this carving with well-wishes. The character for elephant, xiang, is synonymous with ‘lucky’ and when illustrated with boys they represent the wish for good fortune. The name of thepotted plant on the back of the elephant, the wannianqing (commonly known as the Nippon Lily or Sacred Lily) can be translated as ‘green for ten thousand years’, and together with the elephant form the rebus wanxiang gengxin (‘May the New Year bring a revival of ten thousand things’). Furthermore, the peach tree and bats decorating the exquisitely carved saddlecloth symbolise longevity and blessings.

Sotheby's. Treasures of the Qing Court, A Personal Perspective. London | 07 nov. 2012, www.sothebys.com