A very impressive and large Chinese celadon jade elephant, 19th/20th century

青玉童子洗象, 19/20 世纪

the large celadon jade boulder well carved as an elephant, his head turned to one side, and with three small children grooming and washing him, one child holding a lingzhi stem

The depiction of elephants and children grooming is a common theme in Chinese art throughout a variety of mediums. The Qing court was reported to be amoured with animals such as horses and elephants, with elephants being known to symbolise peace and the children symbolising prosperity

Literature:

For a similar composition, but with two boy attendants and dated to the eighteenth century, see 'China The Three Emperors Royal Academy of Arts 2005', no 300 which comes from the Palace Museum Beijing (Gu90193). For another similar example with one boy on an elephant dated to the early 20th century, see 'Later Chinese Jades, from the Asian Art Museum of San Fransisco', 2007, pg.89

此青玉圆硕, 雕有童子洗象。大象头部扭转, 其上爬着三名童子, 其中一名手执灵芝

童子洗象是中国各类艺术中常见的题材。 清朝艺术尤其流行以象马为题, 此玉雕之大象寓意平安, 童子寓意多子昌盛。

类似题材的一件十八世纪玉雕，能见于故宫博物院 (Gu90193), 并见于Royal Academy of Arts 编: China: The Three Emperors 1662- 1795 , 2005年 (《中国: 三代皇帝 1662-1795》) 一书，展品第300号; 另一件二十世纪的作品能见于 Later Chinese Jades, from the Asian Art Museum of San Fransisco, 2007年(《旧金山亚洲美术馆的中国晚期玉雕》), 第89页。