WHITE JADE 'ELEPHANT' INK STONE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, 1736-1795 清乾隆 白玉雕太平有象壁瓶式硯台 of an archaistic wall vase form supported on a short splayed foot, one side with a slightly concave body as ink-grinding well, the oval-shaped opening of the vase also slightly concave as brush lick, the neck of the vase minutely carved in low relief with two kui-dragons on a diamond ground, all between two bands of key-fret pattern, the neck flanked with two large elephant heads with prominent snout and tusks, the underside of the ink stone similarly decorated around the neck, the body further carved in relief with a full elephant with its wrinkled skin delicately represented with wavy lines, the stone of even white colour with greyish tone and with traces of russet flecks; contained in a fitted wooden box with cover (15.2cm wide) Qty: (1) Provenance: Private collection, England, has been collecting Chinese jades for over 20 years