AN APRICOT-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK 'ELEPHANT' PANEL 18th/19th centuryAN APRICOT-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK 'ELEPHANT' PANEL18th/19th century The panel of rectangular shape, delicately embroidered in vegetable dyed floss silk and couched gilt threads to depict a central caparisoned white elephant supporting a vase of auspicious objects on its back, surrounded by floral sprays of blossoming peonies and lotus and fruit branches bearing pomegranates and peaches, all on a bright apricot ground, framed and glazed. The embroidery 90.5cm (35 5/8in) wide x 55cm (21 5/8in) high.十八/十九世紀 刺繡太平有象掛屏Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London, acquired in 1980來源：倫敦Linda Wrigglesworth收藏，於1980年入藏The panel is replete with a variety of symbols expressing multiple auspicious wishes. The word for vase ping 瓶 in fact is homophone with 'peace' ping 平, and elephant puns with xiang 象 meaning 'sign' or 'portent'. Together, these two words form a rebus for the phrase taiping youxiang 太平有象, meaning 'Where there is peace, there is an omen (or elephant)'. Pairs of elephants carrying vases thus became an important part of the Imperial throne regalia. The lotus, one of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, is also a homophone with the Chinese character he 和 meaning 'harmony'. Representing purity and aspiration, the lotus, like the pomegranate, also conveys the auspicious symbolism of fertility, for the multitude of its petals, leaves and seeds. Finally, large peaches growing in the wondrous realm of the Queen Mother of the West, granted immortality to whoever ate them.