Page 154 - Fine Chinese Works of Art Bonhams Hong Kong May 2018

THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN FAMILY 歐洲家族藏品
Lots 54 - 61

54 Y
A VERY RARE RHINOCEROS HORN DOCUMENTARY LIBATION
CUP
Signed Zhou Tang Zhencang, dated by inscription to the 7th year of
Wanli, corresponding to 1579 and of the period
Naturalistically carved in the form of a gnarled tree trunk with irregular
knotty exterior with cavities, branches and nodules, the interior
smoothly carved, the base carved in low relief with the four-character
seal mark and incised reign mark, the horn of golden-honey tone.
11cm (4 3/8in) long

HK$120,000 - 150,000
US$15,000 - 19,000

明萬曆七年（1579年） 犀角雕樹幹杯
「萬曆七年」楷書款及「周堂珍藏」篆書款

Provenance:
An important European private collection, and thence by descent

Published and Illustrated:
J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London,
1999, p.232, pls.329-330

來源：
重要歐洲私人收藏，後由家族繼承

出版及著錄：
J.Chapman，《The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China》，倫
敦，1999年，頁232，圖版329-330

It is exceptionally rare for a rhinoceros horn libation cup to bear a date, 此器以樹幹為主體造型，雕出簡潔的樹紋癭節，底部刻「萬曆七年」
and in particular an early one as on the present lot, which is dated to 楷書款及「周堂珍藏」篆書款。犀角器上刻有紀年款極其罕見，此杯
the ‘Seventh Year of Wanli’, corresponding to 1579. 上的紀年款及堂款均顯示了此杯的重要性，十分難得。

The distinction of this lot is further augmented by the relief carved 香港蘇富比曾售一件明萬曆犀角杯可資參考，刻壬午年款（1582年）
collector’s seal Zhou Tang Zhencang’, which has not been traced, ，2017年4月5日，拍品編號3643；另見舊金山邦瀚斯售出一杯，十
demonstrating the importance in which the cup was held. 六/十七世紀，刻萬曆款，2010年12月13日，拍品編號5061。

The cup is superbly carved in a naturalistic gnarled tree-trunk form,
demonstrating the highly accomplished craftsmanship of the carver,
invoking the idealistic nature retreat which the literati would aspire to
retire to.

Compare a related rhinoceros horn libation cup, dated Renwu year of
the Wanli period, corresponding to 1582, which was sold at Sotheby’s
Hong Kong, 5 April 2017, lot 3643; and see also another rhinoceros
horn tripod libation cup, Wanli mark, 16th/17th century, which was
sold at Bonhams San Francisco, 13 December 2010, lot 5061.

150 | BONHAMS