Asian Art Calendar of Events

Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Exhibition Private - Europe & Africa

Important Chinese paintings and calligraphy and Chinese works of art; Japanese netsuke, lacquer and works of art

Sydney L. Moss Ltd
12 Queen Street,
Mayfair, London, United Kingdom
Oct 29, 2009 To Nov 27, 2009

Detail: Speciality: Chinese and Japanese paintings and calligraphy; Chinese literati works of art, Japanese netsuke and lacquer, Indian, Southeast Asian and Himalayan sculpture.

Phone No.: +44 (0)20 7629 4670
Fax: +44 (0)20 7491 9278
Contact Name: Paul Moss, Max Rutherston
Contact Email: pasi@slmoss.com
Site URL: http://www.slmoss.com

Shih-sou (Ming dynasty)

Mid to late Ming dynasty (15 to 17 century)
A copper-red bronze seated upright elephant paperweight or desk ornament of hefty palm-of-the-hand scale, inlaid using silver wire with a surface patterning of scrolling floral design, giving the beast’s otherwise naturalistic surface an archaising effect. Signed underneath in silver wire with the “signature” Shih-sou. “Old Man Rock” was a Ming and later generic signature for figural works and desk objects decorated with such silver wire surface inlay; animals using the technique and bearing the Shih-sou name are far, far rarer. This red elephant, with its powerful baroque curlicue devolution of skin folds and ears, is earlier than many; although whether or not that allows for the possibility that the first Shih-sou actually made it himself remains highly debatable. The fitted box for the animal features a pre-crinkled fabric for it to sit in, entertainingly echoing the nature of elephant skin.