AN EXCEPTIONALLY CARVED, INSCRIBED RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP 17TH CENTURY

of gently flaring form, exquisitely carved in various levels of relief around the exterior on one side with a figure seated within a pavilion overlooking a couple in a pine forest and inscription, the reverse with a horse and a group of figures set amongst further pine and wutong trees on a rocky ledge accompanied by another inscription, the trunk and branches of one pine tree extending into the interior of the cup with a seated figure under wutong trees, beside a stone bridge in a rustic riverscape with steep cliffs and a waterfall gushing into foaming ripples at the base, the horn of rich honey tone, carved wood stand

The cup is in general good condition with the exception of few nicks and losses to one minor tree branch to one side and to the back of the rim, there is a 0.3 x 0.2cm flake and other minor nibbling to the base. Several natural nicks (circa 0.4cm to 1.4cm) have been cleverly incorporated into the jagged mountain face to the interior of the cup. The horn is of a richer golden honey 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."

Exquisitely carved with a well-known scene from Act Four in the famous Yuan dynasty play Xixiang ji (Romance of the West Chamber) by Wang Shifu (c. 1260-1336), the present vessel belongs to a special group of rhinoceros horn carvings made in the 17^th century. The inscriptions read and may be translated as follows:

Ma chi ren yi lan, feng ji yan xing xie.
The horse is slow, people think it's lame,
gusty wind makes walking straight behind another difficult.

Gu deng chui ba yan meng long, hu meng hua lai lu dian zhong.
The eyes were blurred after the lights were dimmed, (he) suddenly dreamt of the flower (representing Yingying) coming to the inn.

The first phrase can be found in the fourth act of the play where the hero , Zhang Junrui , is dreaming of his love and affection for Yingying, the heroine in the play.

The present carving is special for a number of reasons. Although rhinoceros horn cups decorated with figures in a landscape are readily found, this vessel is distinctive for its meticulous and detailed workmanship on both the interior and exterior of the vessel. The scenes are immediately recognisable with close attention paid to every detail.  The artist was familiar with his subject matter and may have used available woodblock prints as a reference for his carving.  The vessel is also special for its light honey tone, which is a natural colouration that is especially pleasing.  Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 60, notes that the yellow and honey colours are thought to be the result of the natural ageing process of the horn and some of the earliest known carvings are described as being yellow in colour. Vessels of this type are almost invariably associated with the best quality carvings.

No other similar example appears to be recorded, although  a cup carved with various episodes from a number of famous plays, including the Xixiang ji , of slightly larger proportions but fashioned in a related manner and of similar beautiful light colouration, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8^th October 2006, lot 1137. Other examples of vessels with figures are included in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 139, depicting a scene from the Preface to the Scholarly Gathering at the Orchid Pavilion by Wang Xizhi; another fashioned with the scene of the Eight Immortals celebrating , published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 148; and two cups carved with figures in a landscape, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, are illustrated in Jan Chapman, op. cit., figs 353 and 354. Compare also a vessel of similar size carved around the exterior with a continuous rocky landscape with pavilions nestled amongst pine, prunus and wutong trees, included in the exhibition Metal, Wood, Fire and Earth: Gems of Antiquities Collections in Hong Kong, 2002-2005, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 2002, and also illustrated in Fok, op. cit., pl. 162, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31st May 2010, lot 1818, from the Songzhu Tang collection.