A GOOD BAMBOO 'QILIN' LIBATION CUP

the hollowed vessel finely and naturalistically carved as a curled recumbent qilin, the body with strong backbone and the head raised alertly and turned sharply to the right, with large bulbous eyes and a ferocious set of bared teeth, the wood patinated to a rich dark toffee tone

Formerly in the collection of Dr Fleischer, Berlin, purchased in 1990 (by repute).

Libation cups made of bamboo are rare and those in the form of an animal are unusual. For examples of bamboo carvings of animals see a figure of a lioness with her cub from the Simon Kwan collection, included in the exhibition Ming and Qing Bamboo, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2000, cat.no. 76, together with a carved figure of a frog, cat.no. 77. Compare another bamboo carving of a lion playing with a cub from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 24th May 1985, lot 424.