An inscribed rhinoceros horn libation cup Qing dynasty, Kangxi period

the horn of deep reddish-brown tone, with a widely splayed mouth tapering to the truncated base, carved in high-relief with pines, paulownia and flowering trees growing from mountain cliffs and towering rocks above a winding rushing stream indicated by incised undulating waves, below a short poetic inscription carved in relief to the rockface, the interior in the form of fractured rock formations, a tall pine tree with thick knotty branches bearing round clusters of needles rising up and over the rim to form the reticulated handle, set atop further rolling waves visible on the underside of the base, wood stand (2)

Collection of Kenyon V. Painter, Cleveland, Ohio & Arusha, Tanzania, circa 1910s-40s.
By descent to the present owners.

There are several vertical age cracks, with seven concentrated around the foot and with three along the interior, the most significant approximately 2 1/2 inches long. The cup has holes bored from insects to both the interior, exterior and base, the largest 1/2 inch long. There are three irregularly shaped nicks to the everted end of the mouth. The horn is a little dry and will need repolishing.
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