A PALE GREEN JADE CARVING OF AN ELEPHANT Ming DynastyTHE PROPERTY OF A BRITISH FAMILY英國家族藏品A PALE GREEN JADE CARVING OF AN ELEPHANTMing DynastyThe rounded pebble smoothly carved as a rotund elephant with two long tusks flanking a long curling trunk, the large head with almond-shaped eyes and finely incised wrinkles, the stone of pale greenish-grey tone, with frosty inclusions. 6cm (2 1/4in) wide. 明 玉象Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., LondonJoseph (1938-2005) and Bella (1941-2011) Shapiro, acquire from the above on 10 August 1987, and thence by descent 來源：倫敦古董商 Spink & Son Ltd.Joseph Shapiro (1938-2005)和 Bella Shapiro (1941-2011)在1987年8月10日從上處購得，並由後人保存迄今In China, the elephant is a symbol of strength, sagacity, and prudence, representing power or energy. See a related jade elephant, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong, 1996, pl.157, p.169. See another related jade elephant, 16th/17th century, illustrated by J.C.Y.Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, New York, 1980 p.75, no.57.Compare also with a related celadon and russet jade figure of an elephant, Ming-early Qing dynasty, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 487.sold_price_type: £