LATE MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY

Details

**AN UNUSUAL LARGE BLACK-STAINED RHINOCEROS HORN CUP
LATE MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY
The sides well carved in high relief unusually with narrative scenes, perhaps from the fourteenth century novel, Xixiangji, (The Romance of the Western Chamber), all in a setting of rocks and trees, with a large pine tree interlaced with a tall outcropping of rock at one end to form the handle, and with a pine bough at either end on the rock-carved interior, stained matte black
7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm.) long

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 and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

According to J. Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 62, during the 18th and 19th centuries there was a fashion for dyeing rhinoceros horn carvings a matte black. She goes on to say that this is more noticeable on larger cups, such as the example illustrated, fig. 32. The author notes that pine soot and squid ink were sources for this black dye.

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