A finely carved  rhinoceros horn 'Longevity' cup, 17th century. Photo Sotheby"s

the tall horn carved on the exterior with a continuous scene of three immortals standing on a promontory with a mansion emerging from the turbulent waters near the base, one of the immortals pointing to a crane with a tally in its beak flying overhead, the scene framed by craggy rocks and trees, the undercut trunks of two pine trees forming the handle with branches extending into the interior. Height 5 3/4 in., 14.5 cm. Estimate 200,000-300,000 USD 

NOTE: The deep and fluid crafting of the three figures in a rocky landscape make this vessel an especially fine example amongst figural landscape carvings in this medium. The story depicted is taken from the Dongpo Zhilin, a collection of writings by the famous statesman and poet Su Shi (1037-1101) of the Song Dynasty. Su tells of three immortals who were trying to figure out who was the oldest. One of the immortals said that each time land emerges from the sea, he
records the event with one tally. To date, he has enough tallies to fill ten mansions. Since land emerging from the sea is such a rare event, this indicated his extreme age. This tale has been compressed into the decoration seen on the present fine vessel, with the three immortals, the crane holding a tally in its mouth, and a mansion being thrust upward from the sea. The image carved has many auspicious connotations, making it a suitable birthday gift wishing the recipient longevity or to be used for special celebratory occasions. Furthermore, objects decorated with pine tree, as seen from the handles of this cup, were much favored by the scholar-literati who appreciated the piece not only for its form but for what the pine tree represents: longevity.

For examples of rhinoceros horn vessels with historical figures see one in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, carved with the story of Lanke guan qi (Observing a Chess Game on Mount Lanke) included in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carvings in China, London, 1999, pl.286; and another depicting the poet Li Bai, formerly in the collection of Dr. Ip Yee and now in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included ibid., pl. 288. Compare also a cup, from the collection of Franklin Chow, depicting the legend of Jiang Ziya, also known as Taigong Wang (The Great Duke's Hope), sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 2720.

Two pine trees forming the handle with branches extending into the interior of the vessel can also be seen on a large cup rendered with cranes and other auspicious symbolism, from the collections of Edward T. Chow and Franklin Chow and illustrated in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 144, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 2722. For other examples decorated with the pine motif see one in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, included in Chapman, op.cit., pl. 229; and another, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, published in 'Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings', International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1982, pl. 38.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York | 20 Mar 2012  www.sothebys.com