A FINELY EMBROIDERED APRICOT SILK PANEL WITH AN ELEPHANT CARRYING A VASE, 18TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A FINELY EMBROIDERED APRICOT SILK PANEL WITH AN ELEPHANT CARRYING A VASE, 18TH CENTURY China. The panel finely embroidered in couched gold thread and silk stitch with a richly caparisoned elephant carrying a precious vase surmounted by a flaming pearl, standing on rockwork amid auspicious flowers, bats, Buddhist emblems, and lingzhi-form clouds, with a sprig of peaches above, all framed by a border of wan symbols interspersed with blossoms. Dimensions: Size 99.2 x 80.7 cm The panel is replete with auspicious symbolism, conveying a series of wishes for peace, prosperity, and good fortune. The Chinese word for vase, ping, is homophonous with ‘peace’, while xiang, meaning elephant, also carries the sense of an ‘auspicious sign’ or ‘portent’. Together, the two form the rebus ‘taiping youxiang’, conveying the auspicious message ‘Where there is great peace, there are auspicious signs’. Pairs of elephants carrying vases consequently became an important motif within the decorative vocabulary of imperial furnishings and throne regalia. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related silk and metal thread embroidered silk satin table vallance with elephant, dated 18th century, 130.2 x 97.2 cm, in the Metropolitan Museum of art, Object number 1971.257.4. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 12 May 2022, lot 135 Price: GBP 6,120 or approx. EUR 8,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar subject, the color of the silk, and fine embroidery. Note the size (90.5 x 55 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 16 May 2024, lot 96 Price: GBP 5,120 or approx. EUR 6,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar subject, the colors, and fine embroidery. Note the size (102 x 82 cm).

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