Lot 1732. An exquisite rhinoceros horn tea bowl, Song-Yuan dynasty (12th -14th century); 3 1/8 in. (8 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 700,000 - HKD 900,000. Price Realized: HK$847,500 ($109,076) © Christie's Images Ltd 2008

Carved in shape of tianmu tea bowl, the deep rounded thick sides slightly incurved at the rim, the elegant body supported on a short, slightly spreading foot, the base carved and filled in gold with the characters nei fu, 'Inner Palace', the horn of a warm golden-honey tone, wood stand, box. Weight: 4.2 oz. (120 gm.)

Provenance: Phillips New York, 1981

Literature: T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 100, no.52
J. Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. no.64

Exhibited: Hong Kong Museum of Art, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth: Gems of Antiquities Collection in Hong Kong, 2002-2005

Notes: The inscription neifu,'inner palace', is found on articles that were intended for use in the Forbidden City and J. Chapman notes in ibid., p. 87 that this appears to be the only rhinoceros horn carving to have been published bearing this inscription.

The closely related form of tianmu (Temmoku) tea bowls made for the Japanese market during the Song and Yuan dynasties, as well as the rich patina and age crackles of the material on the current vessel suggest a Song or Yuan dynasty date.

Christie's Hong Kong. Important Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings from the Songzhutang Collection. 27 May 2008