Boldly carved in high relief around the body with two powerful and dynamic chilong, another three chilong forming the handle, the largest biting the lip and confronting a smaller chilong drawing back in the interior, the exterior with a band of stylised dragons on a leiwen ground, key-fret borders around the inner and outer lip. 

Provenance:  An important European private collection

Note: Compare with a related archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup, early 18th century, illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.67, no.20.

A related archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century, with a similar motif of chilong and archaistic scrolls but carved in rectangular section, was sold at Christie's London, 8 November 2011, lot 8; another similar rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century, was sold at Christie's Paris, 15 December 2010, lot 211.

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