A SMALL FIGURAL RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

the honey-toned round cup carved on the exterior with three boys navigating along the edge of a rocky cliff, one of the boys depicted grasping the openwork trunk of a flowering tree with one hand while finding his footing along the narrow ridge and holding a leaf with his free hand, on the other side two boys brace each other on the edge of a rocky path, further along peonies spring from the rocks, the interior lightly carved with the jagged edges of the cliff

Sotheby's New York, 25th September 1986, lot 274.
Collection of Franklin Chow.

Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 158.

Apart from a dry matte surface and a small 2mm hole filled on the exterior base, the overall condiion is quite good.
"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."

Finely carved with an image of children at play, a design sporadically seen on rhinoceros horn vessels, this bowl is appealing for its deep carving and weighty form, possibly intended to contain water for the scholar's table where it would have been placed together with his other materials for writing and painting. The light honey tone, which is the natural colouration of the vessel is especially pleasing, and suggests an early attribution. Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, op.cit., 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 light tone are almost invariably associated with the best quality carvings. The exceptional finish of the base, in the form of a smooth rock, is also worth noting. Although the base is not exposed, the carver has nevertheless fashioned it with great care, displaying the high level of attention paid to every detail.

The inspiration for the design is possibly from slightly earlier, Chenghua period (1463-1487), doucai cups painted with boys at play in a rocky garden setting, as seen on a cup included in the Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Ch'eng-hua Porcelain Ware, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2003, cat. no. 139. 

Compare also a cup depicting playing children, sold in these rooms, 20th November 1984, lot 526; and another from the collection of George Headley, sold at Christie's New York, 1st December 1983, lot 715.