tai ping you xiang: The bottle (ping)-form and the elephant (xiang) represent a sign (xiang) of peace (taiping), representing the saying taiping youxiang, an expression denoting the hope of the people for stability

The elephant with a vase on its back provides a rebus for the desire of both the Emperor and his subjects for stability. The bottle (ping)-form and the elephant (xiang) represent a sign (xiang) of peace (taiping), representing the saying taiping youxiang, an expression denoting the hope of the people for political stability

The word for elephant, xiang, is the same as that for sign. And if the elephant has a vase (ping), that would rhyme with peace (taiping). And so the gift would allude to the popular saying taiping youxiang: when there is peace, there are signs.

The combination of a vase ( ping ) and an elephant ( xiang ) provides a homonym for the rebus taiping youxiang ("May there be a peaceful reign").

tai ping you xiang, "peace has its symbol."