A very rare rhinoceros horn 'lotus-leaf' libation cup


17th/18th centuryNaturalistically modelled as a large inverted lotus leaf superbly carved with finely detailed veins and undulating furled edges, the exterior decorated in various levels of relief with two small conch shells and a mantis resting on a further curled lotus leave, the openwork handle formed from intertwining stems issuing a lotus flower and pods bursting with seeds, all borne on a further lotus blossom at the base, the horn of a dark amber tone, box. 16cm (6 1/4in) long (2).
|十七/十八世紀 犀角雕年年相逢杯Provenance:S. Marchant & Son Ltd., LondonAngela Chua Collection, Hong Kong, acquired from the above on 12 November 2002來源：倫敦古董商S. Marchant & Son香港蔡劉木蘭女士收藏，2002年11月12日購得The present cup is remarkable for its superb quality of relief and openwork carving of the open lotus leaf with furled rim and flowers as well as the characteristic veining. This particular type of lotus cup standing on a base of another lotus bloom depicted with distinctive layers of petals, together with the handle shaped as two stems of lotus flowers and buds, is considered as one of finest types of lotus cups; for further discussion see J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.166.Lotus as one of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang, symbolises purity due to the beautiful flower emerging from muddy water. It is associated with the pure character of for virtuous gentlemen and the lotus (he 荷) is also a homophone for the word 'harmony' (he 和).For related examples of a rhinoceros horn 'lotus' cups, also carved standing on a lotus blossom, see one in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, illustrated ibid., nos.207-209; and another from the Thomas Fok Collection, illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, no.85.See also a 'lotus' rhinoceros horn cup from the Songzhutang Collection, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3 October 2017, lot 3704.蓮花為佛教八吉祥紋飾之一，是神聖潔淨的象徵。蓮花姿態高雅且香氣清幽，出於污泥而不染，象徵文人雅士高潔的品質和美好的修養。荷花和荷葉取其讀音，亦有和諧的吉祥象徵。其他同樣以小蓮花當成杯足的犀角蓮花杯，都柏林查士特圖書館藏一例可資參考，見Jan Chapman，《中國的犀牛角雕刻藝術》，倫敦，1999年，編號207-209；另見松竹堂舊藏一例，著錄於霍滿棠，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，圖85。再參考松竹堂舊藏一例，後售於香港蘇富比，2017年10月3日，拍品3704。