Late Qing/Republic period Of flattened form with a pair of undercut elephant head and loop handles on either side of the waisted neck, one side carved in high relief with an artful gnarled plum tree bearing scattered blossoms rising from rocks, the opposing side skillfully inscribed and heightened in gilt with an Imperial poem matching the carved theme by the Emperor Qianlong, the flaring foot deeply recessed; the matrix displaying a faint grayish green tinge with pale russet and lighter color inclusions and natural fissure lines (minor old chips, lacking cover). 7 7/8in (20cm) high