Altar ornament

One of a pair of Buddhist altar ornaments, in the form of a richly dressed elephant, carrying a beaker-shaped vase on its back. The elephant's body is carefully painted in brown and red, and the trapping is painted in rich famille rose enamels. The tusks are made from ivory. The vase on its back is painted to imitate enamelled metalwork. The leaves sprouting from the vase are made from green jade and the berries from red coral. The elephant is a Chinese symbol of peace.