Lot 316. A rhinoceros horn archaistic libation cup, 17th-18th century; 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm.) long. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 79,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

Well carved around the sides with a raised archaistic band of taotie masks separated and divided by notched flanges finely carved with different diaper motifs, above a band of pendent blades and below a band of key fret at the rim which is repeated inside the rim, the openwork handle formed by a large chi dragon with single horn pulling itself up onto the rim while surrounded by five clambering chilong, one climbing up from the interior, of dark reddish-brown color, wood stand.

Property from the Estate of Charles V. Swain.

Lot 317. An unusual small rhinoceros horn oval measuring cup, 18th-19th century; 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm.) long. Estimate USD 1,500 - USD 1,800. Price realised USD 16,250. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

With deep sides flaring from the countersunk base which is inscribed with the charactersan (three).

Note: This cup would have been in a graduated set of four cups used to measure liquid medicine. 

Lot 318.  A rhinoceros horn magnolia-form libation cup, 17th century; 6½ in. (16.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 15,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 34,600. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

Well carved as an open magnolia blossom carved around the exterior with further blossoms and buds, all borne on a branch that forms the openwork base and the handle at one end, with a single stamen carved in high relief in the center of the interior below the overlapping petals, of deep honey color shading to a darker tone at the base, openwork wood stand.

Property from the Estate of Charles V. Swain.

Lot 319.  A rhinoceros horn magnolia-form libation cup, 17th-18th century; 5¾ in. (13.3 cm.) long. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 34,600. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

Well carved as a large magnolia blossom borne on a branch that forms the openwork base and rises up the sides bearing further blossoms and buds as well as forming the openwork handle at one end, of deep honey color

Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd., London.

Lot 320. A pair of large reticulated rhinoceros horn libation cups, 19th century; 26½ in. (67.3 cm.) and 27 in. (68.6 cm) high. Estimate USD 100,000 - USD 150,000. Price realised USD 229,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

Each of pale honey color carved in high relief and pierced with a scholar and his attendant standing above a group of deer amidst lingzhi, prunus, grape vine and fruiting pomegranate trees, all bordered by pierced rockwork or branches at the tip and a band of clouds at the rim,  wood stands.

Provenance: Sotheby's, London, 13 November 2002, lot 14.

Lot 321. A rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th-18th century; 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm.) long. Estimate USD 7,000 - USD 9,000. Price realised USD 27,400. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008

Carved in high relief with two chilong crawling around the sides atop the central taotieband carved in sunken relief below a key- fret border along the rim, two further chilongclinging to the rear of the cup forming the handle, the head of the larger extending over the rim and into the interior.

Lot 322. An unusual small rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century; 3¾ in. (9.4 cm.) long. Estimate USD 18,000 - USD 25,000. Price realised USD 25,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008

Of conical, flaring form, deeply carved with a bat in flight above two leafy clusters of peach and finger citrons rising from the openwork base.

Lot 323. A rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century; 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) long. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 10,000. Price realised USD 27,400. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008

The exterior carved in high relief with chrysanthemum and begonia blossoms borne on leafy, trailing stems, the largest leaf curled around the base to form the raised foot, two of the blossoms extending over the lip and into the interior, which has been carved in the form of an open flower.

Lot 324. A small rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th-18th century; 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm.) long. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 109,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008

Finely carved as a lotus leaf with curled edges, borne on a coiled openwork stem that forms the base and bears a flower on one side, with an insect and two characters, Shang Ming, carved in relief on the exterior and a fish and snail on the interior, of rich honey color shading to a darker tone at the base.

Note: A rhinoceros horn cup bearing a seal mark in relief reading Shang Ming, but carved with taotie masks and and chi dragons, in the collection of Tom Fok, is illustrated by T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 65, no. 18.