A MASSIVE CARVED FULL-TIP 'IMMORTALS' RHINOCEROS HORN QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

the deep U-shaped cup left plain, the exterior intricately carved and pierced with immortal figures, reclining rams, mythical beast and a dragon amongst a cornucopia of various plants including pine, magnolia, prunus and lingzhi rising from rockwork at the triangular tip, all below a border of rolling clouds at the rim, the horn of honey-brown tone, accompanied by a carved and pierced wood stand

There is a 1 x 1cm chip to the wutong tree leaves on the front side the the horn above the figure holding a flywhisk. One of the twin-knots on the figure holding a fan above is lost. A 2cm long section has been chipped off from the mouth rim, the surrounding cloud scrolls has several areas of loss (measuring circa 1 x 1cm) and other minute chips. There are extensive age cracks running down the sides and a possible age ring in the well of the libation cup. The stone is of a slightly darker brownish tone compared to the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Rhinoceros horn cups of this full-tip shape are impressive for their massive size, however, the present example is especially striking for its densely carved decoration that is bursting with auspicious design elements. It is an example of a vessel fashioned with the maximum amount of bold carving, perhaps made on commission for someone celebrating an important occasion.

For comparable examples see a cup of slightly bigger dimensions, in the Durham University Oriental Museum, included in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 38, where on p. 73 the author notes that the majority of these extravagant full-tip cups were produced during the nineteenth century and almost certainly in Canton.

An early example, that may have served as inspiration for later pieces, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carving, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 131, attributed to the late Ming period. See another vessel of this type made of Indian rhinoceros horn and carved and pierced with continuous landscapes and figures inspired by the famous work titled Notes on the Pavilion of a Drunken Old Man by the Ouyang Xiu, from the collection of Thomas Fok, published in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 156.

A slightly shorter but closely related cup, from the collection of Kenyon V. Painter, Cleveland, Ohio, was sold in our New York rooms, 19^th March 2007, lot 384; and a pair similarly carved with figures in landscape and surrounded by auspicious symbols, was sold at Christie's New York, 19^th March 2008, lot 300. See a fourth example sold in these rooms, 7^th November 2007, lot 204; and another sold in our New York rooms, 16^th September 2009, lot 150.