A rare large rhinoceros horn cup, 17th-18th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Finely carved around the sides with three horses and a groom in a rocky landscape, one horse shown rolling on one side while on the reverse the other two stand partially obscured by the overhanging boughs of willow trees while the groom stands nearby, one of the willow trees forming the openwork handle along with two other trees at one end where a leafy branch is carved on the interior of the rim, the horn of dark honey color; 5¼ in. (13.4 cm.) high, wood stand - Estimate $300,000 - $500,000

明末/清中期 犀角雕馴馬圖盃

Provenance: Acquired in the 1960s. 

PROPERTY FROM THE MARGARET N. AND EVERETT A. PALMER, JR. COLLECTION

Notes: Rhinoceros horn cups carved with horses are rare, with archaistic designs, or landscapes and genre scenes being the most commonly chosen subject matter. Compare a smaller (12.7 cm. high) rhinoceros horn cup, signed 'Hanqing,' carved with a similar scene of horses and grooms, in the Songzhutang Collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 31 May 2010, lot 1817.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Part I) , 22 - 23 March 2012 , New York, Rockefeller Plaza