Three rhinoceros horn libation cups, 17th-18th century

A fine rhinoceros horn 'magnolia' libation cup. 17th-18th century. photo courtesy Bonhams

Naturalistically carved as a large magnolia blossom borne on a branch that forms the openwork base and rises up the sides where it bears further blossoms and buds forming the openwork handle, with a single clambering chilong peering over the rim, with further prunus blossoms around the sides, and with a single stamen carved in high relief in the centre of the interior; 13.4cm (5¼in) wide - Estimate: £30,000 - 50,000, HK$ 370,000 - 610,000, USD 47,000 - 79,000

Provenance: purchased in Sydney, Australia in the 1950s/60s

The magnolia flower, symbolising feminine sweetness and beauty, is one of the most popular decorative motifs for rhinoceros horn libation cups. See an example from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, illustrated by J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.167, fig.211. Another libation cup of similar form was recently sold at Christie's New York, 17 September 2010, lot 1296.

A rare archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup. 17th-18th century. photo courtesy Bonhams

The cup of deep conical form on a crisp spreading foot, carved in crisp shallow relief around the central part with a horizontal band of two taotie masks, one side with a handle formed as a pad-footed chilong dragon poking its head over the rim; 6cm (2¼in) high - Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000, HK$ 120,000 - 180,000, USD 16,000 - 24,000

The Property of an English Collector

An archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup. 17th-18th century. photo courtesy Bonhams

Carved in the form of an archaic vessel, yi, with a central band enclosing taotie masks against a key-fret ground, with key-fret borders at the rim and foot, the openwork handle in the form of two chilong clambering up over the rim, the horn of a rich honey tone, 13.2cm (15¼in) wide - Estimate: £8,000 - 12,000, HK$ 98,000 - 150,000, USD 13,000 - 19,000

Provenance: a Scottish private collection. According to family tradition, it was acquired by the present owner's great-grand-father, a painter and art collector, circa 1900.

The present libation cup belongs to a group of rhinoceros horn carvings which draw their inspiration from archaic bronze vessels. The trend in the collection and appreciation for archaic bronze vessels, which dated from as early as the eleventh century, led to the printing and distribution of illustrated pattern books, which allowed craftsmen to reproduce the motifs and patterns of ancient bronzes, such as key-fret border and taotie masks, see J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.148. A related libation cup in the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde in Museum, similarly carved with taotie masks against a key-fret diaper around the body, and with high-relief dragon handles is illustrated in ibid, p.152, fig.184.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 11 Nov 2010  New Bond Street www.bonhams.com