Intricately carved in high relief around the exterior with six wreathing chilong biting each other's bifurcated tails, three further chilong curled around a sphere forming the base, the horn of rich caramel-brown tone.

Provenance:  An important European private collection

Note: A related rhinoceros horn libation cup, but with seven chilong around the exterior, 17th century, is illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.50, no.3.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 11 May 2017, 11:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET