Although ceramics have flourished in Thailand since the 9th century, celadon stoneware has been an especially revered Thai art form since the 13th century. When the Chinese brought celadon techniques to the kingdom then called Siam, the ancient capital of Sukhothai became a center for world-renowned celadon artisans. This expressive elephant and her child speak to Thailand's cultural reverence for the powerful animals. They are believed to have great wisdom, and popular superstition says that it's good luck to walk underneath an elephant's belly.

Mother: approximately 3 1/4"W x 7"L x 5 3/4"H. Baby: approximately 2"W x 4"L x 3 1/2"H.

The pale green glaze called celadon is a hallmark of Asian porcelain. An iron oxide in the mixture gives the glaze its color, and a pale green reminiscent of jade is the most common, especially in contemporary decorative arts. Korean potters during the Choson dynasty (1392–1910) were inspired by earlier imported wares from Ming dynasty China (1368–1644) and took the art to new heights. When the technique migrated to Japan, it was primarily Korean work that was the most influential, with a distinctly Japanese style evolving through the work of master potters in the late 18th century.