A FINE AND VERY RARE LARGE ARCHAISTIC RHINOCEROS HORN BEAKER VASE, GU

Details

A FINE AND VERY RARE LARGE ARCHAISTIC RHINOCEROS HORN BEAKER VASE, GU
QIANLONG

Finely carved at the central section with raised flanges diving two horned taotie masks with ruyi-snouts, on a keyfret-ground, the flaring foot similarly designed, below a trumpet neck with four upwardly tapered triangular lappets, each decorated with a taotie above its stylised body reserved on a similar ground, the inner foot and the interior of the vase well hollowed, the colour of the horn in tones of mottled dark brown to rich honey
9 8/9 in. (25.1 cm.) high

Sale room notice

Please note chip to foot restuck and age crack restored.

Lot Essay

This appears to have been carved using three separate rhinoceros horn sections, elegantly shaped to form an archaistic gu beaker vase. As properties in the horn were supposedly able to detect poison, it is not surprising to find them carved into libation cups of rhyton form. However, it is unusual to find an archaistic gu shape; particularly of such impressive size, with this overall quality of material and expert craftsmanship.

For other archaistic examples of rhinoceros horn carvings, cf. a small ding, sold in our New York Rooms, 1 June 1990, lot 80; a jue on three truncated blade feet from the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, sold in our New York Rooms, 1 December 1994, lot 2; and another jue sold in New York, 2 March 1995, lot 68.

(US$100,000-130,000)

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