Libation Cup

A rhinoceros horn libation cup. Qing Dynasty, 18th Century. Photo Bonhams The conical horn well carved and undercut with a handle formed by a rocky outcropping and the reticulated trunks of deciduous trees overlapping a gnarled pine with its upper branches extending into the interior, a lower bough stretching over a rocky overhang to frame a seated Chinese sage accompanied by two youthful attendants, all pondering the landscape formed by jagged cliffs scattered with maple and other deciduous trees silhouetted against a meandering... [Lire la suite]

          A finely carved archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup. Ming dynasty, early 17th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011 The tall slender body rising to a wide flaring rim, encircled at the mid-section in shallow relief with a raised band of confronted archaistic kui dragons on a leiwen ground, between large lappets rising to the rim and descending to the slightly splayed foot divided by four regularly spaced vertical notched flanges, further intricately decorated in high relief at... [Lire la suite]

        An extremely rare archaistic tripod rhinoceros horn libation cup.. Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011   The archaistic vessel standing on three broadly splayed triangular lappet-form legs emerging from lion masks, the slender flared body exquisitely carved in low relief around the sides with a band of two taotie masks on a leiwen ground below a band of stylised lappets enclosing ruyi heads, the double strap handle spanning the lower body and the rim with a... [Lire la suite]

        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... [Lire la suite]

          A large and superbly carved archaistic 'chilong' libation cup. Ming dynasty, early 17th century, mige zhencang four-character sealmark to the base. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011 The generously sized cup with an elegantly proportioned tapering body, finely carved around the mid-section in varying levels of relief with archaistic taotie masks on a leiwen ground between lappet and lotus scroll bands, the foot encircled by a narrow band of confronted archaistic dragons separated by... [Lire la suite]

An exquisitely carved rhinoceros horn libation cup. Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011 The thick irregular sides superbly carved as a tapering knotted hibiscus branches issuing from the exterior to form the handle, growing smaller branches bearing hibiscus flowers enveloping the sides of the cup and extending over to the interior upon which a swallow naturalistically carved in openwork is perched looking upwards grasping a branch that bridges the spout while a second swallow perched on the... [Lire la suite]

A finely carved 'Ode to the Red Cliff' rhinoceros horn libation cup. Late Ming / early Qing dynasty. Photo Bonhams Superbly carved in deep relief to depict a scene from 'Ode to the Red Cliff', depicting Su Dongpo accompanied by two other figures seated on a raft on a fast-flowing river, all below large, cragged rock faces, a cascading waterfall and over-hanging pine and wutong trees, with a scholar and attendant seated on the riverbank, a large gnarled pine tree forming the openwork handle, the horn of a warm honey tone, carved... [Lire la suite]

A carved rhinoceros horn libation cup. 17th century. .Photo Sotheby's of flaring U-shape resting on a flat base, carved with a gnarled tree forming the handle with associated leaves continuing over the rim, the exterior decorated in relief with a sage and an acolyte set within a landscape, with further trees rising from rockwork amid a cloud mist, the horn of rich toffee tone darkening to a dark chocolate tone at the base; 16cm., 6 1/4 in. Estimate 50,000—70,000 GBP. Lot Sold 181,250 GBP PROVENANCE: Christie's Rome, 7th May... [Lire la suite]

A figural rhinoceros horn libation cup. Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century. Photo Sotheby's the amber and black toned horn carved with the scene of King Wen of Zhou inviting the retired scholar Jiang Ziya to return to official duties, the scholar seen opposite the handle seated beneath a willow tree fishing on the banks of the a river with the king standing next to him, behind a rock an attendant stands holding a large fan, on the opposite side a canopy and fan float above the clouds, the handle formed by openwork paulownia and pine... [Lire la suite]

A small rhinoceros horn ibation cup. 17th century.  Photo Christies Ltd 2011 The octagonal vessel supported on a short recessed foot, the rim finely carved with a thin key-fret band, and with a loop handle to one side, the striated horn of a rich brown colour; 2¾ in. (7 cm.) wide. Estimate £15,000 - £20,000 ($25,065 - $33,420) Provenance: The Van Veen Collection, Holland.Christie's London, 12 May 2009, lot 26. Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art , 10 May 2011. London, King Street www.christies.com