A Carved Rhinoceros Horn Archaistic 'Chilong' Libation Cup Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period

deftly carved with wide flaring sides, carved in low relief around the exterior with a frieze of taotie masks against a finely defined leiwen ground, one side further carved in openwork with a pair of clambering chilong forming the handle, the larger one with sharp claws and a bifurcated tail peeking over the key-fret decorated rim, the horn of a warm chocolate brown tone, wood and metal stand

Collection of Kenyon V. Painter, Cleveland, Ohio & Arusha, Tanzania, circa 1910s-40s, thence by descent.
Sotheby's New York, 18th September 2007, lot 6.

The overall condition is quite good, except for a few small refilled areas, including one of approx. 0.5 x 0.2 cm to the larger chilong's nose. The mouth has two hairline cracks, measuring approx. 1.5 and 1.3 cm from the rim on the interior. There are also some typical age crackles, occasional nicks and insect holes.
"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 carved with a combination of archaistic decoration and mythological creatures were favoured for their association with and reference to ancient artefacts that were historically collected by the nobility in China. This fashion for archaism first arose during the Song dynasty and resulted in the production of pattern manuals and books which contained designs that were widely copied on works of art in different media. A cup of this type, but of oval section, from the collection of Thomas Fok, is published in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 142.

Jan Chapman, in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pp. 147-56, illustrates a number of comparable examples which she lists as belonging to the ‘archaistic decoration’ category; for example, a cup from the Avery Brundage collection in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, pl. 179; and another in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, pl. 185; and a third in the Staatliches Museum für Volkekunde, Munich, pl. 184.