Lot 374. A fine and rare rhinoceros horn 'Four horses' libation cup, signed by You Kan (active 1660 - 1720), Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 5 7/8 in., 14.9 cm. Estimate 250,000 — 350,000 USD. Lot sold 540,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

the horn of outstanding golden honey tone transmuting to darker brown in places, carved in virtuoso fashion with two plump grooms leading four noble horses through a vivid landscape of large boulders, swaying willows and the torrents of a swiftly flowing stream, the different temperaments of the steeds skillfully evoked, with one being led docilely, another spiritedly turning amid the shallows and rocks, a third contentedly grazing and a fourth playfully gambolling on its back as it reaches up to nibble at a passing willow frond, the high rocks and willows forming the reticulated handles to one end and continuing over the rim to the interior, the flowing waters continuing to the underside of the truncated base where the virtuoso signature is displayed in two seals, a square one reading You Kan, and a circular one for his hao, reading Zhi Sheng.

Note: The present cup has a beautiful light colouration that brings out the natural ‘peel’ surface of the material, a characteristic found in the highest quality rhinoceros horn carvings. This type of surface is often compared to the texture of the finest doeskin glove when it is stretched over the hand. Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 60, notes that the yellow and honey colours are probably the result of the natural ageing process of the horn and some of the earliest known carvings are described as being yellow in colour.

The tradition of depicting horses showing their beauty, strength and freedom in motion and to celebrate their spirit and nobility is evident from this vessel. However, rhinoceros horn cups carved with horses are rare although a cup decorated with the motif of Muwang bajuntu (Picture of the eight stallions of Emperor Muwang) is in the collection of Mr. Thomas Fok and illustrated in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 228, pl. 168, where it is noted that the cup is an unusual example of its kind.

Horses have been associated with official aspirations and happy and carefree horses were symbols of officials free from their daily duties and routine. The famous Song dynasty poet, Su Dongpo (or Su Shi), describes a painting by Han Kan (618-907) depicting four horses as follows:

"One horse stood on land with raised head and its mane disordered as if looking for something, stamping with its hoofs and neighing. Another was on the point of stepping into the water, the hind-part up and its head down, but bending round and hesitating before completing the step. Two more horses were already standing in the water, one of them looking back as if speaking through its muzzle, but the one behind was not answering because it was drinking and consequently immobile. They were like stable-horses, though without the restraint of bridles or whip, and at the same time like wild horses with their sharply cut eyes and ears pricked up with excitement, strong chests and fine tails. Their behaviour was as fine as that of worthy officials and noble dukes when they meet." (Osvald Siren, Chinese Painting, Part II, vol. VI, New York, 1958, p. 138).

In the design of the present cup, You Kan may have been inspired by Han Kan’s painting mentioned above or by Zhao Mengfu’s paintings of horses, such as the one depicting four stallions by a river bank, dated equivalent to A.D. 1312, and illustrated in Siren, op.cit., pl. 17.

Horses depicted bathing in a stream were also a much favoured subject matter for bamboo carvers such as Wu Zhifan of the Kangxi period. A brushpot by Wu carved with scenes of horses bathing and frolicking under pine trees is illustrated in Simon Kwan, Ming and Qing Bamboo, Hong Kong, 2000, p. 238, pl. 46, where it is mentioned that two brushpots of this motif and carved by Wu can be found in the Palace Museum, Beijing.