Lot 1269. A good small rhinoceros cup, 18th-19th century.Height 6.2 cm; length 9.5 cm. Estimated price €8.000 - €12.000. Result: €39.680. Photo Lempertz 

Of oval cross-section, on a small elliptical foot, carved with a thirty-three character inscription in cursive script in raised relief consisting of drinking songs and commentaries on the verses and melodies, the handle formed by twisted plum blossom branches, the rim with a key-pattern band in engraving. At the base a two engraved seal script characters reading Han zhi.

Provenance: Robert (1903-1968) and Isabelle de Strycker (1915-2010), Leuven/Herend (coll. no. XXI,5,Zj), acquired from Antiquariat Max, Brussels, in 1957

Since 1983 property of Baron Cecil de Strycker (1915-2004) and Baronne de Strycker (1923-2015), Brussels, thence by decent 

Professor Robert de Strycker and his wife Isabelle discovered Chinese art while on a trip to London in the 1930s. They began collecting Chinese art in 1938, buying in Paris and Belgium and corresponding with scholars in this field throughout Europe. They meticulously documented the acquisitions. Some of the pieces from the collection were shown in the exhibition "Oude kunst uit Leuvens privébezit" (Old art in private collections of Leuven).