Live Auction 2891Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
A RARE AND UNUSUALLY LARGE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP
Lot 3043ANOTHER PROPERTY

A RARE AND UNUSUALLY LARGE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP

QING DYNASTY, 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Closed30 November 2011

Price Realised

HKD 1,460,000

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

A RARE AND UNUSUALLY LARGE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP
QING DYNASTY, 17TH/18TH CENTURY
The deep hollowed circular cup of unusually large size rising to a widely flaring undulating rim in the form of a magnolia leaf, the exterior well-carved in high relief and openwork with entwined branches of lotus, millet, sagittaria sagittifolia and peony tied together on one side with a billowing ribbon, the stems continuing around the underside of the cup to form the base and rising around the sides to reveal their respective blossoms
6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm.) wide, box

Acquired at auction in Los Angeles in the 1990s

Specialist note

Although the theme depicted around the sides of this cup is one which is well-known among rhinoceros carvings of this period, both the rounded form and size of this cup are highly unusual. The broadness of the base and the unusually wide sides would suggest that the original horn would have been of an exceptionally large size.