Literature: Francois Leroy, Connaissance Des Arts, 'Les coupes en corne de rhinoceros', July 1978, no. 3
Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 147, no. 171 (full view) and p. 244, no. 357 (base)

 

Notes: The present lotus-form cup appears to be the only published example of a rhinoceros horn carving bearing an incised Qianlong four-character mark. The mark on the current bowl is illustrated by Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 244, no. 357 where the author comments that this bowl belongs to a 'handful of carvings that appear to be completely compatible with everything we know from other examples of decorative art to be in the style favoured by him [the Qianlong Emperor].' Two further Qianlong marked cups in the National Palace Museum, Taipei are identified and illustrated but the marks differ from that found on the present example as they are carved 'Qianlong fanggu' six-character marks. The close association in form with jade carvings of the Qianlong period is a continuation on the theme of reproducing classic forms in different materials.

Jan Chapman also notes that the present cup is almost certainly a copy based on a Qianlong jade example of the same form. This is link also noted by Craig Clunas in discussing another rhinoceros horn lotus-leaf-shaped saucer in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated in Chinese Carving, London, 1996, p. 40, no. 38. The relationship between jade and rhinoceros horn can be seen in reverse in a white jade carving in the form of a rhinoceros horn libation cup with a dated Qianlong inscription relating to 1777 from the Kitson and Hartman Collections, most recently sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1388. Interestingly a boxwood cup of identical form from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2009, lot 1813. It can be presumed that two companion cups are based on an identical rhinoceros horn proto type, possibly also bearing a 'Qianlong Fanggu' inscription.

The graceful form of this cup is also extremely rare and there appear to be no other published examples with the elegant undulating rim and tab feet found on the present example. A larger lotus-form bowl dated to the 15th century with carved sides and resting on a ring foot from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2010, lot 2242.

Undecorated rhinoceros horn carvings are discussed by Jan Chapman, op. cit., London, 1999, pp. 146-147 where the present example is illustrated. The author also discusses rhinoceros horn cups and bowls and illustrates a number of related examples including a petal-shaped deep bowl formerly in the collection of Dr Ip Yee, ibid., p. 88, no. 68; and a plain bowl with a Xuande mark from the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, p. 220, no. 309.

 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 June 2011, Convention Hall www.christies.com