A finely modelled pair of Japanese Hirado porcelain brush pots formed as elephants, dating to the Meiji period (1868–1912).
Each elephant is rendered standing with the trunk raised and curling back beneath a square brush holder formed as part of the animal’s back. The bodies are decorated in underglaze blue with panels of floral and geometric designs, characteristic of Hirado porcelain production, while the elephants themselves are finished in the typical white Hirado porcelain body, creating a striking contrast with the blue decoration.
The sculptural modelling is particularly lively, with carefully articulated ears, folded skin and raised trunks, reflecting the refined craftsmanship associated with Hirado porcelain during the late Edo and Meiji periods.
Elephant forms were popular export and decorative motifs, symbolising strength, wisdom and good fortune. Objects of this type were often produced as scholar’s desk items or small decorative vessels.
