Lot 147. A large rhinoceros horn libation cup, Qing dynasty, 18th century; length 7 3/8 in., 18.7 cm. Est. 15,000—20,000 USD. Lot sold 86,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

of dark brownish-black tone, the horn finely carved to the exterior with a lone boatman on a rolling stream, beneath a mountain landscape with towering pine trees and swirling clouds, a large gnarled pine trunk and branches forming the handle at one end, the interior carved with a writhing qilong and swirling clouds, inscribed qi qiu xia ri, Bai Ye, with wood stand (2)

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's New York, 13th December 1945, lot 232.

NOTE: Compare a cup of similar form and subject sold in our London rooms, 18th November 1998, lot 825.

Lot 145. An archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup, Qing dynasty, late 17th-early 18th century; length 6 1/4 in., 15.9 cm. Est. 30,000—50,000 USD. Lot sold 68,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

intricately carved in shallow relief around the exterior with a central band featuring two descending bats decorated with archaistic scrolling motifs, reserved on a detailed keyfret diaper ground, above a row of upright lappets, below a T-scroll border at the rim, the S-shaped handle with a clamoring qilong biting at the rim, confronting a smaller qilong situated inside the smoothly-carved interior, supported on a splayed waisted foot, the base with a four-character seal mark of the artist Yuan Shangqing Zhi ('Made by Yuan Shangqing') within a square, of reddish-chestnut color with a dark brown foot

NOTE: According to Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 141, there are four known cups by Yuan Shangqing. A rare ewer and cover illustrated op.cit., p. 141, bearing a dingwei cyclical date that Chapman attributes to either 1667 or 1727, provides a clue as to the artist's dates. A libation cup bearing the four-character seal mark of Yuan Shangqing was sold in our London rooms, 24th April 1987, lot 285.

Lot 150. A carved rhinoceros horn full-tip libation cup, Qing dynasty, late 19th century; length 23 in., 58.4 cm. Est. 20,000—30,000 USD. Lot sold 60,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's

boldly carved with figures of Immortals and monkeys, some holding and plucking peaches from pendent branches, two deer and a crane resting beneath paulownia and pine trees, surrounded by lush arrangements of prunus flowers, lingzhi fungus, and bamboo, the rim bordered by scrolling clouds, the horn of light brown-caramel color

Lot 146. An archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup. Qing dynasty, Kangxi period; length 6 in., 15.2cm. Est. 8,000—12,000 USD. Lot sold 43,750 USD. Photo Sotheby's

of slightly squared section, the body carved with a wide band of large taotie masks against a leiwen ground, below a keyfret border and a band of cicada wings at the rim, all above the slightly splayed foot, the flattened handle below a qilong reaching up and biting the rim, the horn of deep brown tone

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's New York, 13th December 1945, lot 226.

Lot 149. A Rhinoceros horn libation cup, Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century; length 5 3/4 in., 14.6 cm. Est. 6,000—8,000 USD. Lot sold 43,750 USD. Photo Sotheby's

carved on the exterior with various birds including a phoenix and a crane, all amidst rockworks and various flowers including lotus, peonies, prunus flowers, and zinnias, the openwork handle formed by flowering branches, the horn of chestnut-brown tone, with wood stand (2)

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's New York, 13th December 1945, lot 226.

Lot 148. A rhinoceros horn 'magnolia' libation cup, Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century; length 4 3/4 in., 12.1 cm. Est. 6,000—8,000 USD. Lot sold 35,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's

the warm honey-colored material naturalistically carved in the form of an open magnolia flower, borne on a gnarled leafy stalk issuing further smaller buds around the vessel and forming a short foot to the base, the handle in the form of a qilong dragon clambering across a gnarled stem

Lot 142. A rhinoceros horn fly-whisk. Late Qing dynasty; length 11 3/8 in., 28.8 cm. Est. 4,000—6,000 USD. Lot sold 21,250 USD. Photo Sotheby's

the handle of the fly-whisk elaborately carved with a gnarled branch blossoming with prunus flowers and buds, bordered by a diaper ground, the lower part of the handle inscribed feng shuang gao jie and mei yi shan ren.

Lot 151. A small rhinoceros horn cane, Qing dynasty; length 29 3/4 in., 75.6 cm. Est. 5,000—7,000 USD. Lot sold 13,750 USD. Photo Sotheby's

the horn carved from the slender base, flaring gently upward toward the rounded petite handle, of honey-brown color with thick darker striations, fitted silver cap on the tip.

Lot 141. Two rhinoceros horn belt-buckles, Late Qing dynasty; length 2 in., 5.1 cm. Est. 3,000—5,000 USD. Lot sold  7,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's

the rectangular plaques left plain but for the central oval carnelian inlays, both carved with fruits and flowers (2).

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 16 Sep 09. New York.