Before the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the climate in the Central Plains was warm and humid, with an average annual temperature higher than today, which was suitable for wild elephants to inhabit. Henan was called Yuzhou in ancient times, which was named after the elephants it produced. Ancient documents record that merchants domesticated elephants, and jade elephant carvings further confirm the legend of merchants domesticating elephants.
This jade elephant is standing, with a plump body. Its long nose is raised, and the tip of the nose is curled inwards into a round hole. There are three groups of double-yin-line herringbone patterns on the trunk. Its mouth is triangular, slightly open, and there is a dent on the lower lip. Its eyes are in the shape of the Chinese character "臣". Its large ears are close together, decorated with hook cloud patterns, and there is a diamond pattern between the two ears. The head and body are not clearly distinguished, and there is a groove under the neck, decorated with two groups of cloud patterns on each side.
The jade elephant has short, strong and powerful limbs, a pointed tail hanging down, and two groups of double-negative wavy patterns on the tail. The whole body is decorated with double-negative patterns: the body and limbs are decorated with cloud patterns, the front end of the back is decorated with diamond patterns, and the middle of the back is decorated with shield patterns.
The jade elephant is light yellow in color, the jade is mature and smooth, with some changes in the texture of the jade, fine rice seepage on the surface, slight calcification on the right hip, and traces of weathering and soil erosion.
This Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) round sculpture of a small elephant uses a combination of abstract and realistic methods to express its naive and docile demeanor, and the lines used to outline the patterns are distinctive and powerful.
There is a four-character inscription engraved on the belly of the jade elephant, indicating that it is of very high quality.
Dimensions: Length 93mm (3.66") Width 49mm (1.93") Height 54mm (2.13")
Weight: 294g
