Mid-Qing Dynasty|The animal with almond-shaped eyes standing foursquare with head held straight between large ears, the meandering trunk between pointed tusks, the body caparisoned with beaded harness and a saddle rug decorated with dragons and lotus blooms, the back surmounted with an openwork cover cast with a coiled dragon chasing a flaming pearl amidst wispy clouds. 44cm (17 1/4in) long. (2).|清中葉 銅灑金瑞象香爐Provenance: Christie's Paris, 22 November 2005, lot 18 A distinguished European private collection來源： 2005年11月22日於巴黎佳士得拍賣，拍品18號顯貴歐洲私人收藏The elephant in China represents strength, wisdom and peace. The Chinese for elephant (xiang 象), is a pun for 'sign' or 'omen', written and pronounced exactly the same way. Riding on an elephant, (qixiang 騎象), is a homophone for 'good fortune' (jixiang 吉祥).