Chinese Toggle Depicting an Elephant with Monkey

A lump of blue-gray stone with a small white animal asleep on top.

This toggle depicting an elephant with monkey is from China. It is carved jade. The dragon is a popular toggle motif symbolizing wisdom, ambition and prosperity, a five-clawed version represented the emperor, and a dragon with a phoenix suggested marriage and was a wedding gift. A creamy white patch at the crown carries a tiny curled figure. The polish is soft and slightly cloudy. It is 3.25 inches wide, 2 deep and 1 high.

Proof that a good boulder only needs a small passenger.