Pair Polychrome Ceramic Elephant Plant Stands Shou Medallion Mid-20th Century

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Material: Press-moulded, hand-glazed ceramic (buff/cream earthenware or low-fired stoneware) in cobalt, iron-red/rust, olive-celadon, ochre and cream glazes

• Dimensions: Each approx. 8 in H x 6 in L x 3.5-4 in D; pedestal platform approx. 2.75 x 2 in

• Color/Finish: Polychrome - cobalt, iron-red, olive-celadon, ochre and cream, with a speckled blue-green glazed pedestal top

• Condition: Very good overall; both pieces intact with no cracks, restoration, or losses to the pierced base band. Normal light glaze wear and a few pinhead glaze skips. One base has a small edge chip and light grey soiling. The white body glaze is uncrazed; the olive pedestal glaze shows light crazing.

• Era/Period: Mid-20th century, most likely c. 1950-1975

• Subject: Matched pair of caparisoned elephant plant stands, each with an oval cobalt medallion enclosing a shou (longevity) character surrounded by iron-red and brown ruyi scrollwork, and a pierced cash-coin base band. Unmarked - no factory stamp, country-of-origin mark, or paper label survives; a single small incised workman's mark on one underside is not a legible maker's mark.

This is a genuine matched pair from a single mould - the two elephants line up band for band, medallion for medallion, with no variation between them. Both are undamaged aside from minor firing and handling wear, with crisp moulding and even, well-preserved glaze work throughout the shou medallion, ruyi scrollwork, and pierced base band. A clean decorative pair for a mantel, bookshelf, or plant display, sold together as found.