The Dr Grice Collection Of Chinese Bamboo And Scholars’ Objects - 10th November 2026

Lot 13

A RARE CHINESE BAMBOO 'ELEPHANTS AND BOYS' GROUP

Estimate £2,000 - £3,000

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Description

A RARE CHINESE BAMBOO 'ELEPHANTS AND BOYS' GROUP
18TH CENTURY

The pachyderm carved with whorling wrinkles, the large head with almond-shaped eyes turned to its right, while two boys with jovial expressions stand on its back holding a vase of leaves and berries, the wood of warm amber tone, 22cm.

Provenance: from the collection of Dr John William Hawksley Grice OBE (1891–1976) and thence by descent.

Cf. Spink & Son Ltd, Bamboo & Wood Carvings of China and the East, p.36, no. 133 for a related bu slightly larger depiction of an elephant with two boys on its back holding a vessle. The character for elephant, xiang, is synonymous with the word 'lucky'. The potted plant depicted here is a stylised version of Rhodea Japonica or wannianqing, which bears red berries during the New Year season. It's name can be translated as 'Green for ten thousand years'. The combination of the plant and elephant forms the rebus, wanxiang gengxin, 'May the New Year bring a revival of ten thousand things', an auspicious greeting during the New Year festival.

十八世紀 竹雕太平有象擺件
來源：John William Hawksley Grice 醫生(1891–1976)收藏，之後由家人繼承。