Description: Consisting of three parts in a black, polished bronze. Standing on a hexagonal plinth, with finely carved dragons in reserves, are four massive conjoined elephants; their tusks, legs and trunks all naturalistically modelled. The third part consists of a massive lobed, veiny lotus flower. Considering the provenance and appearance of this bronze, it likely comes from the ‘Wiener Welt Ausstellung’ in 1873. These type of elaborate and massive bronzes were manufactured for the very first world fair after the opening of Japan, in order to display the superior workmanship of the Japanese. Condition: Good, complete condition Provenance: From an important Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930