Exotic animals sculptures as tributes from other countries generated interest in the Qing court. Similar to the present lot, the tribute elephant is likely to be depicted in three-quarter profile with its head and tail turned sideways in many Imperial paintings. Compare with a jade elephant modeled in a similar posture from the Collection of the Asian art museum of San Francisco, illustrated in Later Chinese Jades – Ming dynasty to early twentieth century, San Francisco, pl.58, p.80.