Page 280 - Fine Chinese Art Bonhams London May 2018

296 Y
A RHINOCEROS HORN ‘MAGNOLIA AND
PRUNUS’ LIBATION CUP
17th/18th century
Modelled in the form of a magnolia flower with
overlapping petals, the exterior crisply carved with
gnarled tree branches borne with flower buds and
prunus blossoms, all issued from a tree branch forming
the openwork circular foot.
10.4cm (4 1/8in) long
£5,000 - 8,000
CNY45,000 - 71,000

十七/十八世紀 犀角梅花紋木蘭花形盃

Provenance: an important European private
collection

來源： 重要歐洲私人收藏

The form of the present lot is rare, but the motif of
prunus was particularly popular. The plum blossoms
(meihua 梅花) was long admired by the literati as
one of the ‘Three Friends of Winter’, being the only
flower that blooms in winter when nothing else will. It
thus became a symbol of resilience and strength as
well as beauty. Rhinoceros horn libation cups with
plum blossom motifs, 17th century, are illustrated by
T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving
in China, Hong Kong, 1999, no.163; see also
J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in
296 China, London, 1999, p.169.

297 Y
A RHINOCEROS HORN ‘PEONY’
LIBATION CUP
18th century
Carved around the exterior with peony flowers
and flower buds, later decorated in red and green
pigments, on a ground of rocky outcrops reserved
in natural dark-chocolate tone, all issued from a gilt
tree branch and an elongated section of rockwork
forming the handle, the interior gilt.
13cm (5 1/8in) long.

£4,000 - 6,000
CNY36,000 - 54,000

十八世紀 犀角牡丹紋盃

Provenance: an important European private
collection

來源： 重要歐洲私人收藏
297

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
272 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.