Expertly carved around the exterior with a continuous scene of an egret and long curving stems issuing lotus blossoms and unfurling leaves, rising out of streams of water finely pierced to resemble a basket-weave pattern, with a fish carved on the underside in shallow relief.

Provenance:  An important European private collection

Note: The combination of lotus (he 荷) and millet grass (he 禾) on the present lot form the rebus of harmony and union (hehe 和合). The fish (yu 魚) is a rebus for 'abundance' (yu 餘).

Compare a related rhinoceros horn 'lotus and egret' libation cup, illustrated by J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.98, no.83.

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