A very rare rhinoceros horn inscribed double-gourd-shaped vessel and a tray


Signed Sheng Fugong, 17th/18th centuryThe vessel of naturalistic shallow half double-gourd form, the tip hollowed to form a spout with a relief-carved band around the convex side, base with a four-character relief carved Sheng Fugong zuo mark, the spout incised with a three-character An Fu cang mark (Collection of An Fu), both in zhuanshu script, the translucent horn of dark-honey tone with rich dark-chocolates tones at the base and spout; the tray of oval form with deeper convex side at the top, with the base of shallow concave form, with a four-character relief-carved Sheng Fugong zuo mark in zhuanshu script, the translucent horn of dark-honey tone, box. The double-gourd-shaped vessel 12.6cm (4 15/16in) long; the tray 6.1cm (2 3/8in) long (3).
|十七/十八世紀 犀角雕素身葫蘆器及托碟陽文「盛輔功作」及陰文「闇夫藏」篆書刻款Provenance: Songzhutang Collection, USAngela Chua Collection, Hong KongExhibited:Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 1997-2005Published and Illustrated:T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.103, no.55來源：松竹堂收藏香港蔡劉木蘭女士收藏展覽：1997-2005年間展於新加坡亞洲文明博物館出版及著錄：霍滿棠，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，頁103，編號55Rhinoceros horn vessels and libation cups bearing a Sheng Fugong mark are exceptionally rare. Sheng Fugong is believed to have been active during the 17th century. For two examples bearing the Sheng Fugong mark, see a rhinoceros horn archaistic fangding, from the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, Mass., illustrated by J.Chapman, The art of rhinoceros horn carving in China, London, 1999, p.136, figs.150-151; and a rhinoceros horn 'landscape' libation cup, 17th century, formerly in the Songzhutang Collection, illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.219, no.160, which was later sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2013, lot 3153. Compare also a rhinoceros horn 'river landscape' libation cup, by Sheng Fugong, 17th century, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 3668.The exceptional craftsmanship of the master carver is evident in the fluidity of the curves accomplishing a deceptively simple yet highly refined and elegant form, allowing the beholder to revel in the natural luminous quality of the translucent golden-honey rhinoceros horn. It is possible that the vessel and tray were used for measuring and mixing medicine, thus allowing for the said magical properties of the rhinoceros horn to permeate the mixture enhancing its potency.此器造型如開邊葫蘆，可盛水並讓其從器口流出，器底刻陽文「盛輔功作」。配以小托盤，底部款字相同。此器造型優美精巧，線條流暢，角質瑩潤，在犀角器中甚為珍罕。這類器皿據說在古時用以盛水調配藥粉的量器，使水中的犀角元素能與藥物混合在一起。傳世犀角器中帶「盛輔功」款之作品十分罕見。盛輔功，明人，身世不詳，其作品風格多樣。犀角器帶「盛輔功」款之例可參考哈佛大學賽克勒博物館藏一件犀角雕仿古方鼎，見Jan Chapman，《中國的犀牛角雕刻藝術》，倫敦，1999年，頁136，編號150-151；另參考松竹堂舊藏一件十七世紀犀角松崖煙溪杯，帶「盛輔功」及「文樞藏」款，錄於霍滿棠，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，頁219，圖160，後售於香港蘇富比，2013年10月8日，拍品3153。另一件帶「輔功」款之例，參看香港蘇富比售出一件十七世紀犀角雕山水人物詩意圖杯，2016年10月5日，拍品3668。