An Impressive Large Gilt-Copper and Cloisonné Caparisoned Elephant and Stand, Qianlong-Jiaqing Period (1736-1820)

An Impressive Large Gilt-Copper and Cloisonné Caparisoned Elephant and Stand, Qianlong-Jiaqing Period (1736-1820)

清 乾隆/嘉庆(1736-1820) 鎏金铜胎掐丝珐琅嵌宝'太平有象'摆件

The sculpture constructed as a representation of 'taiping youxiang' 太平有象, or 'peaceful times'; the elephant cast and gilded with a foundation fine ridges to simulate wrinkled hide, embellished overtop with ornamental trappings lined with cabouchons. The elephant's back is draped with a cloisonné blanket picturing white and red-hued peonies, and the saddle is surmounted by double-lotus supporting a champlevé enamel baluster vase with loose ring handles. From the vase, precious objects are issued such as coral, as well as a large white jade roundel depicting the God of Longevity, Shoulao, accompanied by a crane and attendant surrounded by flowering trees and rockery, inlaid using agates, rose quartz, lapis lazuli, malachite, and other semi-precious stones. The base is formed from a gilt-copper base similarly decorated using champlevé and cloisonné enamel techniques, further embellished with coloured cabochons; the elephant and vase cast as one single piece, the base cast separately, and the jade plaque, pieces of coral, and leaf fitted with long metal prongs to fit into the vase;
jade plaque diameter 8.5 in (21.7 cm), base stand 9.6 x 19.7 x 11.8 in (24.5 x 50 x 30 cm)

画珐琅工艺起源于康熙年间，用珐琅料直接涂画在金属等胎体上，经过烧制后使珐琅画面固定于器物表面，形成优美绚丽的装饰效果。乾隆时期内廷大批烧造画珐琅器物。据<清档>记载，乾隆三十七年有烧造瓷象驮宝瓶制作木样的记录，很有可能为此类器物制作的起始。此象为清中期宫廷陈设品，通常陈设于大殿内两侧堂陛之上，寓意吉利。象俯首而立，长鼻微卷，体态高大，神态生动。工艺方面，整尊将玉器，珐琅器与金属器三种制作工艺相结合。象身为通体鎏金錾花，饰以翡翠，碧玺等珠宝。宝瓶，鞍鞯用珐琅烧蓝装饰，珐琅鲜明艳丽。底座则使用垒丝工艺。皇宫大殿作为清代宫廷与政治生活中至关重要的地方，殿上陈设器仅为皇帝于大殿内专用，亦可称为国之宝器，任何人均不可僭越使用。如<清沈阳故宫博物院院藏文物精粹 珐琅卷>所述:'象驮宝瓶'是所有殿上陈设品中唯一不具有实用性，仅以陈设和象征意义而陈列之物，故其重要性也远远超出许多实用器'。安置于顶部的玉牌或为晚清，民国时期所添加。巧妙运用各类珍稀宝石，如南红玛瑙，白玉，碧玺，翡翠等，描绘一幅'童子寿老'寓意美好的画面。
overall including jade plaque and stand height 44 in — 111.8 cm

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June 09, 2022

Estimate $30,000-$50,000

Realised: $66,000