Lot 2912. An extremely rare 'archaistic vase' rhinoceros horn libation cup, Qing dynasty, 17th century; 7 1/2 in. (19.2 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 2,000,000 - HKD 3,000,000. Price Realized HKD 6,020,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The lower section finely carved as the base of an archaistic vessel with a band of taotie masks around the raised mid-section between bands of lappet containing archaistic dragons and geometric designs, interrupted by four raised vertical flanges, the upper section carved in high relief with a dense network of blossoming branches including peony, lotus, prunus and chrysanthemum surrounding a large splayed lotus leaf which emerges from the archaistic base to form the cup, the material of a golden amber tone.

Provenance: Spink & Son, London.

Note: This very unusual form combining an archaistic bronze base with a naturalistic depiction of flowers appears only to be found in rhinoceros horn carvings and very few examples have been published. The closest example which also appears to be carved with flowers of the four seasons in the Chester Beatty Library Collection, Dublin, is illustrated by J. Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 159, no. 194. The second example is a slightly larger cup with branches of mallow and chrysanthemum emerging from the base of an archaistic hu in the British Museum Collection illustrated by J. Rawson, The Bristish Museum Book of Chinese Art, London, 1992, p. 183, pl. 134.A third, smaller example in the collection of Harvard University Art Museum carved in a slightly different style with sprigs of millet and lotus flowers surrounding the central lotus-leaf cup is illustrated by T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 169, no. 119.

The flowers depicted around the side of the cup symbolise the flowers of the four seasons. Peony represents the arrival of spring, lotus the summer, chrysanthemum the autumn, and prunus the winter. When combined with the vase forming the base, it forms the rebus siji pingan, 'May you have peace throughout the four seasons'.