A RHINOCEROS HORN RHYTON-SHAPED 'STIRRUP' CUP QING DYNSTY, 17TH CENTURY

the full tip horn carved in the form of an archaistic rhyton with a smoothly scooped well encircled by a lipped rim, the tapered terminal convoluting round in two parted scrolls and incised with a single character wang at the tip, further pierced to thread an interlaced silk tassel, the tightly grained horn of variegated brown and barley tone, deepening to a natural black colour on the interior of the shallow well

Collection of Franklin Chow.

Craving for Carvings: Rhinoceros Horn from the Chow Collection, Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore, 2003, cat. no. FC65.

The rhyton is in overall good condition with a smooth polish. There is a 4.5 cm vertical age crack in the grain near the bottom on one side.
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It is extremely rare to find rhinoceros horn cups of this rhyton shape, although Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pp.76-7, discusses the type and mentions three known examples:  a deer-headed rhyton from the Shuisingshi Shanfang collection, pl. 44; a buffalo-headed rhyton from the Arnhold collection, San Paolo, Brazil; and the third, a buffalo-headed rhyton in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, from the Avery Brundage collection, pl. 45.

Rhyton form cups were carved from the entire horn of the Javan rhinoceros, that was highly prized for its impressive length and coloration, which was beautifully mottled and of deep black tone at the ‘well’.  Early writings tell us that the Chinese particularly valued any horns that showed natural black markings and paid very highly for them. The treatment of the horn seen here is particularly elegant, as the tip has been softened and curled round leaving a small space through which it is possible to insert a cord. The cup was suspended from the belt by the cord for ease of transportation.