A very fine rhinoceros horn archaistic 'dragon and phoenix' libation cup


17th/18th centuryExquisitely carved around the exterior with a band of archaistic taotie masks in relief against a key-fret ground, between pendant cicada lappets below and confronting long-tailed phoenix above, the long handle crisply carved as a phoenix detailed with elaborate plumage curling over the rim, approaching a slender chilong coiling beneath and snaring upwards with jagged fangs, the interior perched by a small high relief chilong, the horn of an attractive honey-amber tone, wood stand. 16.5cm (6 1/2in) high (2).
|十七/十八世紀 犀角龍鳳呈祥饕餮紋盃Provenance: a distinguished European private collection, on loan to the Oriental Museum, Durham, from the mid-1970s to circa 2011, and thence by descentPublished and Illustrated: Phillips, London, November 2000, no.4 (acc.no. D54, Selected Chinese Art from the Oriental Museum, Durham來源：顯貴歐洲私人收藏，於70年代中旬至大約2011年期間借展予英國道咸大學東方藝術館，並由後人保存迄今出版及著錄：《Selected Chinese Art from the Oriental Museum, Durham》，菲利普斯，倫敦，2000年11月，編號4 (館藏編號D54）This rhinoceros horn libation cup demonstrates the consummate skill of the carver, with the multi-layered carving and naturalistic plumage of the phoenix. The largest dragon is unusual and rare with his ruyi-like bifuricated tail and knobbly spine, his prowess demonstrated in the superbly carved jagged teeth. This design of phoenix and dragon together with the exquisite quality of carving are suggestive of Imperial Qing style. Compare with a related rhinoceros horn 'dragon and phoenix' libation cup, 18th century, illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.87, no.40.Compare with a related archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th/18th century, with similar archaistic motifs and designs of dragon, but without phoenix and the unusual shape of the elongated handle extending below the foot rim, which was sold at Bonhams London, 11 May 2017, lot 301.