MING DYNASTY, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A FINELY CARVED ARCHAISTIC RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP
MING DYNASTY, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
The gently flaring body is well carved in shallow relief with a band of stylised confronting dragons between a dragon band at the mouth and a waisted phoenix band. The whole cup is raised on an octagonal splayed base carved with an undulating lotus scroll, further intricately decorated in high relief at one end with four chilong of varying size forming the handle, the flattened rim with a band of keyfret. The material is of a rich golden brown tone.
5 in. (12.7 cm.) high, wood stand, box

Provenance

Acquired in Hong Kong, 1978

Literature

T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 56, no. 9

Exhibited

Hong Kong Museum of Art, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth: Gems of Antiquities Collections in Hong Kong, 2002-2005

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory, tortoiseshell and crocodile. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

The combination of archaistic decoration and numerous high relief chilong appears to have been popular with carvers of rhinoceros horn cups. It is the contrast of the sinuous bodies and muscular movement of the dragons to the underlying formalised design of the archaistic bands that provides an attractive overall design most suited to complement the elegant shape of the cup.

Several cups of this type of decoration are illustrated by T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, 1999, nos. 4, 9, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26 and 41. A similar archaistic cup, also with a raised base, from the Songzhutang Collection, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, Important Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings from the Songzhutang Collection, 27 May 2008, lot 1723.

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