This piece is an elephant statue made of green-glazed pottery. During the Han Dynasty, artworks depicting elephants were quite rare. However, such representations did occasionally appear. For example, the bronze vessel from the Han Dynasty housed in the Shanghai Museum is one of the notable examples of this type of craftsmanship. The existence of elephants in ancient China is attested both by archaeological evidence and by depictions in Chinese artwork. Long thought to belong to an extinct subspecies of the Asian elephant named Elephas maximus rubridens, they lived in Central and Southern China before the 14th century BC. At the time, elephants were highly rare and regarded as sacred animals. Green-glazed pottery depicting animals was already scarce, but this elephant form further elevates its rarity. This makes the statue an especially unique and significant representation in ancient Chinese art. Period : Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) Type : Animal statue Medium : Green glazed pottery Height : 14cm Provenance : The piece was acquired in Hong Kong in late 1990s. Condition : Good (Repairs on front leg, mouth and tail) Reference : Asian Art Museum San Francisco - Object number B81P51 - Dog with harness (type : closely related) https://searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/2605/dog-with-harness
* Han Dynasty Pottery
Han Dynasty pottery, originating from one of China's most significant historical periods (202 BCE – 220 CE), is renowned for its technological and artistic achievements in ceramic production. These artifacts typically feature a distinctive green glaze, although other colors were also used. The pottery often includes intricate decorative motifs, such as animals, mythological figures, and geometric patterns.
The craftsmanship during the Han Dynasty was advanced, with pottery techniques that were innovative for the time. These pieces were not only utilitarian but also held ceremonial and symbolic significance. The shapes and designs of Han Dynasty pottery vary, including items like urns, vases, and figures, reflecting both the daily life and the spiritual beliefs of the period
