A SUPERBLY CARVED RHINOCEROS HORN 'LION AND CUBS' LIBATION CUP LATE MING DYNASTY

skilfully carved as a shallow cup forming the body of a recumbent lion depicted with its head slightly turned to the right and supporting the front paws of a clambering cub, the beast finely carved with bushy eyebrows and bulging eyes above its slightly agape mouth, the shapely body with a crenulated spine flanked by small tufts of hair, terminating in a large bushy tail swept to the right, a further young depicted looking up and nestling between the front paws of the lion, the horn patinated to a smooth warm golden-brown colour

Acquired in China in the 1930s, and brought to Canada in June 1947.
Bonhams San Francisco, 24th June 2013, lot 1146.

The carving is in overall good condition with expected small nicks to the extremities, especially to the ears, claws and tails of the beasts. Sections of the bottom rim appear to have been slightly polished down. There are also some typical age crackles and insect holes, e.g. the bushy tail which has been partially refilled.
"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."

Successfully capturing a sense of life and animation, this cup's exquisite workmanship is outstanding. Deftly carved with flaring nostrils and well-combed curling eyebrows framing large bulging eyes, the mythical lion is imbued with elegance and vitality. The carving of the two clambering cubs is imaginative and playful. Sensitively rendered details, as seen in the paws, claws, manes and tails, add to the artefact's charm. The scrolls at the haunches, recalling traditional depictions of wings seen on bixie as early as the Han dynasty, together with the well-defined muscles and spine, accentuate the strength and power of the beasts.

Made to stand on its wide end renders the cup highly unusual. The design highlights the decoration at the tip of the horn instead that on the base. This type of rhinoceros horn animal cup is extremely rare and only a few other examples are known to exist. Jan Chapman lists four examples in her book, Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, nos. 56-59. Signed Bao Tiancheng and bearing a Wanli date, the first cup (no. 56), in the form of a reclining stag, provides important evidence for the dating of the group. The second example (no. 57), carved as a mythical deer reclining in a similar posture, is also noteworthy. Formerly in the collections of John Warrack and Gerard Levy, sold in our London rooms, 12th November 1974, lot 134 and again in Christie's Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3755, it is inscribed tianlu yongchang ('heavenly deer, forever auspiciousness') and decorated at the haunches with scrolls similar to that of the creatures on the present cup.

See also an animal cup formerly in the A.J. Speelman Collection, lively carved in the form of a recumbent deer grasping a sprig of lingzhi in the mouth; and another in the form of a reclining mythical beast, sold in our New York rooms, 20th November 1973, lot 48.

Chapman commented that these cups "might even be mistaken for animal carvings except for the fact that when the carving is upturned it becomes a drinking cup" (ibid., p. 83). Furthermore, the composition of these animal-form rhinoceros horn cups suggests that the carvers have drawn inspiration from animal carvings made using other media. Compare for example a jade mythical beast with similar scrolls at the haunches, brought to the market by Spink & Son in the 1970s and sold again in Christie's New York, 17th September 2008, lot 283, when it was dated to the 17th century; and another Ming dynasty jade, modelled as the Yingxiong group, with the bear similarly detailed with well-combed upturned eyebrows above round bulging eyes and scroll-like haunches, sold twice in Christie's London and recently again in these rooms, 7th April 2015, lot 3757.