Page 158 - Fine Chinese Works of Art Bonhams Hong Kong May 2018

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A VERY FINE RHINOCEROS HORN ARCHAISTIC ‘SIX-CHILONG’ The archaistic design of the present cup, as demonstrated by the
LIBATION CUP taotie mask motif and chilong, encapsulates the renewed interest in
17th century designs adopted from ancient bronzes. This reflects the 17th/18th
Finely carved around the exterior with a band of archaistic taotie masks century trend of ‘evidential scholarship’ (kaoju xue 考據學) not
interrupted by two clambering chilong with bifurcated tails, the handle only with ancient texts, but also archaeology and inscriptions on
formed by a further four chilong biting the rim, the horn of caramel- archaic bronzes, as scholars sought a more empirical approach to
brown tone darkening towards the foot. understanding their ancient heritage invoking the idealised morals
13.8cm (5 3/8in) long and virtues of early China. Responding to the fashion for archaism,
craftsmen reproduced the motifs and patterns of ancient bronzes on
HK$350,000 - 450,000 their rhinoceros horns libation cups from illustrated pattern books.
US$45,000 - 57,000
The present lot demonstrates how the master carver was keen to
十七世紀 犀角雕仿古饕餮紋龍耳杯 display his technical virtuosity by carving four high-relief chilong in
openwork to form the handle.

Provenance: Compare with a related rhinoceros horn libation cup with similar
An important European private collection, and thence by descent motif of chilong and taotie masks, 17th century, illustrated by T.Fok,
Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong,
來源： 1999, p.88, no.41. Further related rhinoceros horn cups with similar
重要歐洲私人收藏，後由家族繼承 archaistic motifs are illustrated by J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros
Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.152, no.184.

See also a related rhinoceros horn cup, 17th/18th century, which was
sold at Bonhams London, 6 November 2014, lot 421.

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