Page 134 - Bonhams Chinese Works of Art December 2014

8269Y
A rhinoceros horn libation cup
17th/18th century
The exterior sides of the flattened conical section of horn undercut and carved in raised relief to
depict wizened scholar officials and/or immortals and their boy attendants amid a continuous
rocky riverside tableau of waterfalls and crashing waves, the interior well of the cup unusually
further incised and undercut to depict gnarled pine boughs, waterfalls, and cranes; the horn
displaying a patina of variegated russet and chocolate hue.
4 3/4in (12cm) high
6in (15cm) long
$90,000 - 120,000
This lot has been in the United States since 1948.
Provenance
a Stamford, Connecticut estate
For rhinoceros horn libation cups in the Qing Court Collection, with intricately undercut handles
and figures inhabiting landscapes similar to this lot, see Gugong bowuyuan cang wenwu
zhenpin quanji, volume 44 (Zhumu ya jiao diaoke), 2002, cat. nos. 145 (Elegant Gathering in
the Western Garden), 146 (Hunting), 147 (Figures in a Landscape) and 148 (Eight Immortals),
pp. 167-172, each as early Qing dynasty.

132 | BONHAMS