A LARGE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP WITH CRANES 17TH CENTURY

finely carved on the exterior with tall crane standing beneath a lofty pine along the banks of a turbulent sea with waves crashing over rocks, the reverse with a second crane swooping down over the water before jagged cliffs, the openwork handle formed by the trunks of a pine tree and peach tree, the branches all intertwined with hanging vines extending over the mouth and on to the interior, with further lingzhi and orchids springing out from the sides of the cliffs, all set between wispy clouds around the mouth and swirling waves on the base, the horn of chocolate-brown tone and a smooth patina

Spink & Son, London, 1978.
Collections of Edward T. Chow and Franklin Chow.

Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 144.

The overall condition is very good with only a 1.5 cm filled age crack to the mouth and some light nibbling to the area around the split. The patina remains in very good condition.
"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."

This finely modelled and exquisitely rendered cup is full of auspicious symbolism. Cranes are generally associated with Shou Lao, the God of Immortality, who is often depicted riding on the back of a crane. The vigorously modelled pine tree that rises to the rim of the vessel also symbolizes longevity, as the pine is evergreen and is known to live for a long time. The design further includes the lingzhi fungus with the auspicious herb lancao growing on the cliff, all representing the wish for an eternal life. There is also a seasonal reference to spring through the flower – orchid – seen depicted below the spout. Cups of this design were made as birthday gifts or for special celebratory occasions. The vessel is also special for its magnificent size, being one of the largest in the collection. 

A cup decorated in low relief with a pair of cranes, parrots and phoenix, against a rocky background, in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, is illustrated in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 253. See another cup sold at Christie's New York, 19th September 2007, lot 3, carved with two cranes, one standing and one soaring in the air.  

The  animated and high-crested waves around the base are reminiscent of those carved on a lotus form vessel, the lower portion of the body decorated with a dragon emerging from highly stylized tumultuous waves, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, included in 'Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings', International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1982, pl. 25. Another cup decorated with waves and bats, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, is published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 149.