36 | A PAIR OF IMPERIAL LACQUERED WOOD ELEPHANTS, EMBELLISHED WITH CLOISONNÉ AND CHAMPLEVE ENAMELS, HARDSTONES AND IVORY Qianlong four character marks and of the period 1736-1795 AD China The wood elephants are carved in mirror image - the surface coated in lacquer and then decorated with gilt flecks of hair. The trappings are inlaid in cloisonné enamel, and punctuated by gilt bronze flower heads centred with lapis, coral, jade and turquoise stones - with the long tusks in ivory. The elephants are draped with a blanket in carved hardwood - the centre of which is inlaid on each side with a rectangular ivory plaque; this is inset with two gilt bronze tassels, either side of white jade twin fish, below a musical stone. Above, a cloisonné enamel throw lies beneath a chased and gilt bronze blanket, and a cloisonné saddle. The saddle supports a gilt bronze vase decorated with flowering prunus in champleve enamel - each vase incised with a four character Qianlong mark in a line at the base of the neck. Height: 11 ¾ / 30 cm Compare: 'China for the West' by David Howard & John Ayers, Sotheby's London and New York 1978, volume II - figs. 688 a, b and c - various pairs of mixed media figures carrying Buddhist emblems are illustrated; they incorporate wood, ivory, enamels, painting and lacquer. The original complete set of figures belonged to Queen Mary and they were probably made for the Chinese court - either as furnishings for the Summer Palace, or as diplomatic gifts.