Chinese Export Porcelain Canton Famille Rose Elephant Candlestick

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Description

Exotic Radiance: 19th-Century Chinese Export Elephant Candlestick

Object: Figural Candlestick in the form of an Elephant Origin: Canton (Guangzhou), China … Read more Exotic Radiance: 19th-Century Chinese Export Elephant Candlestick

Object: Figural Candlestick in the form of an Elephant Origin: Canton (Guangzhou), China Date: Circa 1860 Medium: Chinese Export Porcelain, Iron-Red, Famille Rose, and Gilt Enamels

This striking Chinese Export porcelain elephant is modeled as a figural candlestick, a form popular for Western interiors during the 19th century. The animal stands with its trunk raised, a gesture in Chinese culture often associated with good luck and triumph. The vibrant palette and intricate detailing are characteristic of Canton Famille Rose wares from this period.

The elephant's body is boldly decorated in a rich iron-red enamel, highlighted with detailed gilding to accentuate the folds of its skin and features. The animal is extravagantly caparisoned (adorned with decorative coverings), transforming it into a luxurious table ornament.

Rising from the elephant's back is a gu-form vase—a ceremonial bronze shape adapted here as the candle holder—which sits upon a raised saddle.

The ornamental textiles are the focus of the Famille Rose painting:
• Saddle Cloth: A long saddle cloth hangs down, painted with exquisitely detailed Famille Rose scenes of birds amongst plants and flowers, framed by a decorative turquoise border.
• Blanket: Across the elephant's back, a multicolored blanket with a gilt ground is richly decorated with scattered pink flowers and foliage.

This juxtaposition of a Western domestic object (candlestick) with Eastern symbolic form (the elephant) made these pieces highly desirable as exotic decoration.

Historical Context: Symbolism and the China Trade
Elephant models were highly popular in Chinese art, symbolizing strength, wisdom, and good fortune. By the mid-19th century, Chinese artisans in Canton were expert at fulfilling the specific demands of the international market. This piece falls into the latter period of the China Trade, where the Famille Rose palette (known for its soft pink and opaque enamels) remained the dominant decorative style.

Such figural pieces, often produced in sets, were luxury goods destined for the drawing rooms and dining tables of wealthy Western families, serving as both conversation pieces and a display of cosmopolitan taste.

Details and References
Dimensions: 5 3/4 inches high x 6 1/2 inches long x 4 1/2 inches deep.
Materials: Porcelain, overglaze Famille Rose enamels, iron-red enamel, and gilding.

References:
• Crossman, Carl L., The Decorative Arts of the China Trade (General reference for 19th-century Canton export figures).
• Peabody Essex Museum Collection (Collections often feature similar 19th-century Canton figures and candlesticks).

(Ref: NY9388A-nkir) See less