A LARGE 'WASHING THE ELEPHANT' JADE GROUP, LATE MING TO EARLY QING China, 17th-18th century. The pale green jade crisply carved as a cheerful wrinkled elephant with its trunk swaying to the left, the tip carved as a lingzhi. One boy clambering on its back to groom the elephant, and two further boys with a broom and a water vessel washing him. Provenance: Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd., June 1999, published in the exhibition catalogue from the same date, lot 24. An English private collector, acquired from the above for GBP £15,000 according to pricelist (approximately GBP £23,018.34 in today's money). Robert Kleiner was one of the leading English authorities for Chinese Snuff Bottles, Jades and Works of Art. He has published many books. Condition: Superb condition with fine, unctuous patina. Minor wear and some natural fissures to stone. Weight: 1826.6 g Dimensions: Length 15 cm The body of the elephant incised to simulate deep folds in the hide. The pale green stone with several russet veins and inclusions, cleverly used to enhance these wrinkles. The elephant is an auspicious symbol associated with Buddhism and used in rebuses to convey wishes for peace, prosperity and good fortune. The symbolism of the washing represents the wish for great happiness. Literature comparison: The scene of washing the elephant is well known and can be found on a jade group in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jade ware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl.98; and on a jade boulder in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, pl.44. 大型玉雕童子洗象擺件，明末清初 中國，十七至十八世紀。淡綠色的玉被刻成一頭歡快的大象。象的牙向左擺動，頂端被刻成靈芝。 一個男孩爬到它的背上，另外兩個男孩拿著刷子和水桶清洗他。 來源：1999年6月，Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd., 曾被發表於當日目錄，拍號24。一個英國私人收藏，購於上述拍賣，根據最後價格表成交價為 GBP £15,000 (相當於今天的 GBP £23,018.34)。Robert Kleiner 曾是英國在中國鼻烟壺、玉器和工藝品方面領先人物，曾出版過多本書籍。 品相：品相極好，細膩 潤澤的包漿。輕微磨損，石内一些天然裂縫。 重量：1826.6 克 尺寸：長15 厘米