TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, CIRCA 1640-1645

Zhang Qian was a Han dynasty imperial envoy and traveler. He is more usually seen depicted on rhinoceros horn 'log-raft' cups, of Kangxi date, such as the example sold in these rooms 16-17 September 2010, lot 1300. The rhinoceros horn cups are thought to have been inspired by earlier silver prototypes such as the one in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, dated to the 14th century and another formerly in the collection of Sir Percival David and now in the Cleveland Museum of Art, dated to the Ming dynasty, probably 16th century. Both of these are illustrated by J. Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 263, nos. 382 and 283, respectively. It is rare to find this subject as decoration on porcelain.