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The exquisite painting on the milky-white body is characteristic of the Japanese Kakiemon family of porcelain makers. Since the seventeenth century, the family – now in its fifteenth generation – has been making high-quality porcelain in Arita, the Japanese porcelain capital.

Although elephants are not indigenous to Japan, they play a key role in Buddhism as a symbol of wisdom and strength. However, our elephant was especially made for export to Europe.