** A WELL-CARVED RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP

Details

** A WELL-CARVED RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP
17TH/18TH CENTURY

Finely carved in high relief with eight chilong crawling around the sides atop a leiwen band decorated with four shaped cartouches filled with diaper pattern, with a band of petal lappets below and a narrow band of keyfret at the rim above repeated on the oval pedestal foot, the handle formed by a large dragon pulling itself over the rim, shading from deep honey color at the rim to blackish-brown at the foot (minor restoration, some chips)
5 3/4in. (14.5cm.) long

Lot Essay

For an example signed, Wenshu, with nine chilong crawling around a cup of similar form, also with a central diaper band, see Sydney L. Moss, Emperor, Scholar, Artisan, Monk: The Creative Personality in Chinese Works of Art, London, 1984, pp. 180-181, no. 57