The art of cloisonne was developed in China during the Ching dynasty, and at its peak, it was noted for its craftsmanship in both design and color. The most exquisite pieces, however, have particularly fresh and bright colors, their brass wiring is neatly applied, and they appear solid but dignified. By these standards, the cloisonne elephant pictured here rates very highly.
The piece, 58.2 cm high, 34 cm long, and 16.3 cm wide, can be divided into three parts; the base, the elephant, and the vase on top. The base is made of copper, with two lotus designs in indigo enamel. The elephant is covered with all-white cloisonne work, showing the craftsmanship of the artist. The saddle, blanket, vase, and musical stone in the upper portion have been crafted with the same eye for detail.
The Words for "vase" and "peace" are pronounced the same in Chinese, and as the elephant stands for "hope" or "desire" the meaning of the piece can be said to be "Desire for Peace." The musical stone incorporated in the design represents "recalling troops from battle" while the fish stands for "surplus". These are all auspicious symbols.
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