The present lot exhibits the charming decorative motif on the dome cover of an elephant, xiang toppled with a previous vase, ping on its back. Taken together, it is connotative of the phrase taiping youxiang, which translates to ‘when there is peace, there are signs.’ This decorative motif was prevalent particularly during the Qing dynasty. Similar but larger scale brazier grace the halls of Palaces, see a pair of large braziers with a similar domed cover and elephant-shaped feet currently residing in the Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City, illustrated in The Forbidden City: Collection of Photographs by Hu Chui, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 1998, pl. 32. Vessels such as the present lot not only serve an ornamental value, they were historically utilized during the winter months in the Imperial palaces. The elaborate decorations and craftsmanship of the present lot is very similar to the quality of the larger multi-tiers vessels that were used in the Imperial palaces. For other forms of vessels such as a basin utilized for heating purposes during the cold mouths, illustrated in A lofty retreat from the red dust, the secret garden of Emperor Qianlong, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2012, pl.38, pp.184-185.