A PAIR OF LARGE AND IMPOSING CHINESE LAPIS LAZULI MODELS OF ELEPHANTS

QING DYNASTY

Each elephant stands four-square with its large tusks highlighted in gilt, they support gilt-metal saddle blankets and zun-shaped vases inlaid with colourful stones upon their backs, the vessels contain many bronze branches of lingzhi from which bunches of hardstone fruits hang, each item surmounted by five later European sconces, all raised on elaborate gilt-bronze rectangular pedestals decorated with lotus scrolls in coral, turquoise and other jewels, overall height 57cm and 55cm. (2)

Provenance: Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942), Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009), the Trustees of Exbury House.

Lionel de Rothschild, OBE (1882-1942) was the eldest son of Leopold de Rothschild and part of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England. After the death of his father in 1917, Lionel and his brother Anthony became the managing partners of N M Rothschild & Sons bank. Aside from his involvement in the family bank, Lionel was also a Conservative politician, serving as MP for the Vale of Aylesbury from 1910 to 1923.

After selling Halton House which he had inherited from his uncle Alfred de Rothschild in 1918, the following year Lionel purchased the Mitford estate at Exbury in Hampshire. Lionel had been interested in horticulture from an early age and dedicated much time and money into creating an impressive garden at Exbury. He was also responsible for the building of Exbury House on the estate in the 1920s. Lionel passed away in 1942, and the estate was inherited by his son Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009) who devoted himself not only to the family business but also to maintaining and developing Exbury Gardens which had fallen into disrepair during the Second World War. Whilst Exbury House remains private, the gardens are open to the public and are still regarded as some of the finest in the United Kingdom today.

The lots offered in this sale were in the collection of Lionel de Rothschild at Exbury House and subsequently passed by descent to Edmund.

Cf. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Treasures of Imperial Court, p.32, no.25 for a comparable pair of metal-mounted lapis lazuli elephants carrying vases; see also Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Enamels, 4, Cloisonné in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), p.55, no.25 for a related champlevé jardinière with lotus decoration similar to the base.

The image of an elephant carrying a vase represents the rebus taiping youxiang which carries the sentiment of wishing for peaceful times. An elephant with a vase is a visual embodiment of this expression, as the Chinese words for vase (ping) and elephant (xiang) are homophonous with two words in the saying. Due to their association with this phrase, during the Qing dynasty live elephants carrying vases on their backs were featured in processions celebrating the emperor's birthday. Their presence at these ceremonies was hoped to ensure long-lasting national peace and security under the reign of the ruling emperor. The elephant itself is also symbolic of peace and stability because it is a heavy animal which stands firmly with its four feet flat on the floor.