A CARVED ALOESWOOD LIBATION CUP

QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A CARVED ALOESWOOD LIBATION CUP
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The deep cup is carved from a single piece of wood, resting on three small cloud-feet. The exterior is decorated in openwork with a phoenix with finely detailed wings and tail perched on an angular scroll, accompanied by a small mythical beast and a small chilong. A ferocious chilong with sinuous body and a further small chilong clambering on to the loop handle, opposite to the phoenix head with curled plumage on the rim above the taotie mask suspending a ring handle.
6 in. (15.2 cm.) high, box
252 g

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Ruben Lien

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Lot Essay

Compare to a very similar aloeswood libation cup dated to the Qianlong period in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats: The Carvings of Ming Qing Dynasties, Taipei, pp. 119-122, no. 28.

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