Page 154 - Bonhams Hong Kong The Skinner Moon Flasks

132 Y
A VERY RARE RHINOCEROS HORN ‘SHOULAO AND EIGHT
IMMORTALS’ LIBATION CUP
17th century
Superbly carved as a veined lotus leaf, carved on the exterior in relief
with Shoulao, the God of Longevity, flanked by a deer and a monkey
and below a crane in flight, surrounded by the Eight Immortals, each
holding his respective attribute, all below relief carved ruyi-shaped
clouds, raised on an openwork base in the form of lotus tendrils,
the interior with lotus-leaf veins, the horn of dark honey-brown tone.
13.9cm (5 1/2in) long

HK$200,000 - 250,000
US$26,000 - 32,000

十七世紀 犀角雕八仙祝壽杯

Provenance:
An important European private collection

來源：
重要歐洲私人收藏
.
The carving of the Immortals in high relief reserved against the lotus
leaf, is further accentuated by the reticulated and pierced base on
which the figures are raised, demonstrating the virtuosity of the master
carver. Compare related rhinoceros horn libation cups, similarly carved
with the Daoist Immortals, 17th century, in the Osaka Municipal
Museum, and in the Chester Beatty Library, illustrated by J.Chapman,
The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pls.266
and 270-271; see also the cup illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship
of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl.82. For a
related rhinoceros horn libation cup, early Qing dynasty, carved with
the Eight Immortals, from the Qing Court collection, see The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Bamboo, Wood, Ivory
and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, pl.148.

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