Pair of porcelain model
elephants
From Japan
Edo period,
late 17th century AD
The elephants are made from porcelain decorated
in overglaze enamels in yellow, red, green and blue in the Kakiemon
style.
Many such models of
animals, such as dogs, cats, deer, boars and horses, were made as
ornaments for European mantelpieces. Real elephants would not have
have been seen in Japan at this time, and these may have been
inspired by pictures of Indian processional
elephants.
L. Smith, V. Harris and T. Clark, Japanese art: masterpieces in (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)