Page 300 - Bonhams May 12 16 London

295 Y Phoenixes, cranes and mythical birds inhabiting the paradise of the
A RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP Queen Mother of the Western Paradise symbolise longevity as well
17th/18th century as underscoring felicitous wishes related to marital union, fertility, and
Intricately carved in high relief around the exterior with a continuous happiness. It is also possible that the overall decoration on this bowl
scene of two cranes, two phoenixes, and two amorous mandarin may have aided the owner in visualise a heavenly dimension as it was
ducks in a concentric rippling pond, amongst various other birds, as imagined in the minds of Buddhist believers. Cranes, ducks and other
well as plum blossom, bamboo and rockwork, the openwork handle in rare birds in fact, inhabited the marvellous garden paradise described
the form of gnarled paulownia, the horn of a dark rich tone. in the Lotus Sutra as being covered with gold dust and endless flowing
13.3cm (5 1/4in) long waters.

£10,000 - 15,000 CNY92,000 - 140,000 A closely related cup included in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin,
HK$110,000 - 160,000 is illustrated by J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in
China, London, 1999, p.187.
十七/十八世紀 犀角花鳥紋盃

Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 1 March 1977, lot 90

來源： 1977年3月1日於倫敦蘇富比拍賣，拍品90號

298 | BONHAMS