| The elephant bearing jewels or gifts is a popular theme in Chinese and Tibetan art. Chinese renderings are delightful and idiosyncratic because the artists who drew the animals had never seen a live elephant. This saggy example is typical of the style.
In this case the elephant is bearing Daoist symbols, a fact that does not seem to have prevented its Tibetan owners using it as a panel in front of a Buddhist altar.
This brocade is in superb condition despite its age, with its original intense red color (often the first to fade with exposure to light). The elephant is rendered in brilliant gold-wrapped thread.
Mounted on acid-free card and framed. |
