A fine and rare archaistic jade rhyton Ming Dynasty, 16th / 17th Century

finely carved in the characteristic elongated horn shape, the base carved with face of a beast with bulging eyes under bushy brows on either side of a broad snout and short horns, the pierced base formed by the open jaws showing the flat tongue inside the mouth and a long undercut beard rising up the side from the chin, the sides further carved in high relief with three clambering chilong all set against an archaistic scroll ground, the cream coloured stone with mottled russet veining, wood stand

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 17th November 1975, lot 283.
British Rail Pension Fund, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16th May 1989, lot 95. 

On loan at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1985-1988. 

The rhyton is in very good condition overall. There are natural fissures and veining to the stone, as visible in the catalogue.
"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."

These types of rhytons with the carved open mouth of a dragon forming the base and twisting clambering dragons on the side with a scrollwork ground is a distinct group of jade carvings.  Compare a rhyton illustrated by Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, no. 29.8, dated 16th-17th century.  The author refers to the Han predecessor for this style of rhyton, commenting that dragon head of the base of the cup is a later invention, "perhaps required in a Chinese context to proved a visual explanation for the source of the twisted bifurcated tip."  See another illustrated in National Palace Museum, Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum, Supplement, Taiwan, 1973, p. 21, and by Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, Tokyo, 1977, pl. XXXVII.