A rhinoceros horn 'Scenes of the Red Cliff' libation cup, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Photo: Sotheby's.

the horn of deep brown colour and lustruous patina, carved with a continuous landscape depicting the Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo’s second visit to the Red Cliff when Su left his boat and companions and climbed up the steep cliff, on one side Su is seated on a ledge jutting out from the high cliffs watching a single crane flying in the distance, while his two friends stand at the base of the cliff with the boat, two lofty pines growing in openwork at one end to form the handle, titled in relief with the three characters inscription Chibi tu ('Scenes of the Red Cliff') below the rim in front of the cup. 18.2 cm., 7 1/8  in. Estimation 300,000 - 400,000 HKD - Lot. Vendu 3,880,000 HKD

This cup depicts the Song poet, Su Dongpo’s, second visit to the famous Red Cliff or Chibi. On this occasion, Su left his boat and companions and climbed up the steep cliff by himself. On the cup he is shown seated on a ledge jutting out from the high cliffs. His two friends, the monk Fo Yin and the scholar Huang Lujie, are left standing at the base of the cliff with the boat drifting in the river. According to the poem by Su titled Later Ode to the Red Cliffs, his second visit to this memorable location took place one night in 1032. A single crane may be seen carved under the lip of the cup, depicted flying in from the East and heading towards the West. The crane appeared as a Daoist immortal in Su’s dream later that night, asking him whether he enjoyed his outing. Su then realized that the crane and the immortal were one.