Altar Frontal, 19th century, 37 ⅞ x 36 ⅝ in. ( x cm), silk, gold thread,cotton, embroidery, China, 19th century, In the center of the main rectangle, a large elephant bears a cauldron containing the Eight Treasures within a landscape of various plants associated with good fortune (orchid, peony, magnolia, fungus, chrysanthemum, bamboo) and clouds. The elephant, one of the most important elements in Chinese Buddhist art, was incorporated into court decorative art and given new meanings during the Qing dynasty. Here it would have represented the phrase taiping youxiang

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Size: 2964px × 2880px
Location:
Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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