清康熙 犀角雕「瓜瓞綿綿」盃 《青門高致 怡如製》款

finely carved in openwork in the form of a melon, with lobed undulating sides and unusually ridged interior, its gnarled stalk forming the handle issuing smaller attendant fruits, flowers and furled serrated leaves enveloping the rim, all naturalistically detailed at various stages of aging, one fruit with insect-eaten holes, another partially concealed under the foot of the cup supporting a tiny praying mantis, one side incised the seven-character mark Qing men gao zhi, Yi ru zhi ('made by Yi ru') in archaic script, the horn of rich auburn colour transmuting to a deep burnt-caramel tone beneath the foot

現藏家之祖父於1950年購入

A small section of the stalk forming the handle has chipped off and been restored with wax. A furled leaf has alos chipped off from one side near the rim with some fill-in inside the left cavities and an attendant small chip to the flower twig beneath. There are a couple of other expected small chips to the carving (to one of the leaves near the base, to the tip end tendrils issuing from one of the branch), but overall the libation cup is in good condition. There are a few minor old dents and age cracks along the rim, as well as minute insect-eaten holes toward the front of the cup.
"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."

A very similar horn and possibly by the same hand is in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, published in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 225, with numerous attendant fruits and the interior similarly carved to resemble the interior skin of a melon. Another related cup carved in the form of a half melon with attendant fruit and serrated leaves is published in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 99, sold in our New York rooms, New York, 19 September 1998, lot 395, and at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1701, from the Songzhutang collection.