24 - Baluster vase with peonies and handles with elephant heads, Chinese production, Qing Dynasty, 19th century

Baluster vase with peonies and handles with elephant heads, Chinese production, Qing Dynasty, 19th century Soft soapstone, sculpted in high relief. Measures 18 x 6 cm. Finely chiseled baluster vase, ornamented on the shoulder with two open peonies in strong relief, accompanied by a pair of zoomorphic handles with elephant heads supporting a movable ring with a trunk, creating a rich and symbolic interplay of volumes; the polished surface highlights the stone's soft chromatic hue and natural veining. The sculpture reveals great technical mastery, with precise modeling and meticulous attention to floral and animal details. This piece belongs to the Chinese decorative tradition of the 19th-century Qing Dynasty, where peony and elephant motifs evoke prosperity, longevity, and strength, giving the object a powerful symbolic and ornamental significance.