An important and extremely rare rhinoceros horn deer-form libation cup. Ming dynasty, 16th/17th century.

An important and extremely rare rhinoceros horn deer-form libation cup. Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011

The hollowed cup superbly carved as a powerful full-bodied recumbent deer, its front talon-like feet contentedly crossed at the front below the chest which bears the four-character inscription, Tianlu yongchang, 'Eternal prosperity', its rear legs partially tucked beneath the body which is adorned with ruyi cloud-like swirls, the animal's head naturalistically carved with the horns, eyes and nose slightly raised to act as a stand for the cup, its finely detailed fur and ears swept backwards, with long horns trailing behind and resting on its back to either side of a raised dorsal ridge terminating in a bushy tail falling in curls at the base, the stone of a rich walnut tone lightening slightly to a golden brown colour at the base; 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) wide. Estimate HK$4,000,000 - HK$5,000,000 ($520,000 - $650,000).. Price Realized HK$4,580,000 ($591,476).

明十六/十七世紀　犀角雕「天祿永昌」臥鹿盃

盃呈臥鹿形，鹿前足交疊，顎下刻「天祿永昌」，以鹿的諧音「祿」寓意，後腿屈於身底，上刻如意雲紋。鹿頭圓雕昂起，角、眼、鼻成水平構成底足。雙角頸毛順貼背脊，脊間飾圓點紋，尾卷曲身後。整體刀法俐落，豪放有力。犀角料胡桃褐漸變金褐色。

此類鹿形犀角盃多製造於十七至十八世紀，數量不多。Jan Chapman論述連本盃在內共三個例子，同下書，見83-84頁，圖版56-58號。第一件為水松石山房舊藏，帶萬曆款和鲍天成款，後1987年於香港蘇富比拍賣，拍品490號。第二件為本盃，刀法最簡約，定年應更早，它尤其精妙之處，平時可作臥鹿擺設，由於鹿頭雕成平坦，倒轉盛液體亦能穩放枱面。第三件為葉義醫生舊藏，亦具同樣雙重功能。其他臥鹿盃例子，一件1973年11月20日於紐約蘇富比拍賣，拍品48號；另一件由Jules Speelman收藏。

此器源自愛丁堡John Warrack舊藏，後1974年11月12日於倫敦蘇富比拍賣，拍品134號，再於1970年代在倫敦購入。曾展出於1935-1936年倫敦皇家藝術學院《中國藝術國際展覽會》，展品編號2945。並錄於Francois Leroy著「Connaissance Des Arts」，載《Les coupesen corne de rhinoceros》，1978年7月，圖版4號；以及1999年倫敦出版Jan Chapman著《中國的犀牛角雕刻藝術》，83頁，圖版57號。

Provenance: John Warrack, LL.D., Edinburgh
Previously sold at Sotheby's London, 12th November, 1974, lot 134
Acquired in London in the 1970s

Literature: Francois Leroy, Connaissance Des Arts, 'Les coupes en corne de rhinoceros', July 1978, no. 4.
Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 83, no. 57

Exhibited: Royal Academy of Arts, London, International Exhibition of Chinese Art, November 1935 - March 1936, illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 264, no. 2945

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 June 2011, Convention Hall www.christies.com