A Chinese archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup 17th century, the horn of a mellow dark tone, and with a key fret band inside the rim, the exterior carved in relief with a wide band of stylized dragons, and with smaller chilong dragons beneath the spout and forming the handle, the flared foot with a further key fret band, part of the handle lacking and other small faults, 14cm wide x 11.1cm high.
Cf. Jan Chapman, The Art of the Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, p.154, for a related example in the Staatliches Museum für Volkerkunde, Munich, s.1591.
Sold with CITES pre-sale authorisation letter. A copy is available on request.
Estimate: £15,000 - 20,000
Hammer Price £46,000