Lot 207Y. A fine and rare rhyton-form 'dragon' rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th-18th century; 12.9cm (5in) high. Sold for HK$3,840,000. © Bonhams 2001-2018
The hollowed horn of archaistic form, tapering from a wide heart-shaped mouth, folding over and terminating in a scroll work handle, all supported by the flattened base deftly carved in the form of a stylised dragon head, with jaws wide open, as if swallowing the cup, the sides with rows of bosses in low high, all below classic scrolls at the rim.
Provenance: Purchased from Spink & Son, London at the Foire de Paris, France in 1972
Previously in the collection of Gerard Levy (GL 12)
The Property of a Gentleman
Illustrated: F.Leroy, 'Les coupes en corne de rhinocéros: Une des rares collections privées français de coupes libatoires chinoises sculptées dans une matière insolite, Connaissances des Arts, July 1978, fig.6.
J.Chapman, 'Coupe ou Rhyton: La corne de rhinocéros des Collections Baur', Collections Baur, Spring/Summer 1989, p.8.
J.Chapman, The Arts of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.153.
Note: This magnificent carving belongs to a very small group of related rhinoceros horn libation cups, typically of archaistic form carved with raised bosses and with the handle curling up from the base. However, only one other example, in the Baur Collection in Geneva, is carved with the same monster head base, bearing the relatively unique feature of being able to be viewed not only by sitting the cup on its base, but also on its lip. The Baur carving is discussed and compared to the present rhyton by J.Chapman, 'Coupe ou Rhyton: La corne de rhinocéros des Collections Baur', Collections Baur, Spring/Summer 1989. Another rhyton-form rhinoceros horn carving, in the form of a phoenix, is in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (28.53.a,b) illustrated in ibid, p.11.
Early rhinoceros horn and jade rhytons of bovine and deer-head form represent the earliest representation of 'animal-form' drinking vessels. One buffalo-headed example in the Shuisongshi Shanfang Collection is dated to the Southern Song Dynasty, illustrated by H.Moss and G.Tsang, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, Catalogueno.12. A bovine-head example carved from dark brown jade in imitation of rhinoceros horn and dated to the 7th to 10th century A.D. in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is illustrated by R.Y Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco, 1977, pl.XXXIV.
An unusual feature on this exceptional rhinoceros horn carving is the decoration of raised bosses, carved in high relief on the upper part of the horn. This is directly following a group of late Shang / early Western Zhou bronzes, cast with such motifs against a lozenge ground. For a particularly fine example of this decoration, see the late Shang / early Western Zhou bronze gui from the Cunliffe collection, sold Bonhams London, 5 November 2009, lot 4.
However, the present unusual form is more commonly associated with jade rhytons. One of the earliest published examples, excavated from the tomb of the King of Nanyue in present day Guangzhou province, dating to circa 122 BC, is illustrated by P.Lam, Jades from the Tomb of the King of Nanyue, Hong Kong, 1991, Catalogue no.D44. Jessica Rawson suggests the possibility that the rhyton form was introduced into China from the West, probably in silver or a precious stone, see J.Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p.71.
The rhyton continued to develop and evolve in form from the Song through to the Qing dynasties. The monster head base, seen on examples dating as early as the Song dynasty, may well have been introduced as a decorative element to provide a visual explanation for the twisted handle, as seen on the Nanyue example, see ibid, p.396. Early jade examples can be found in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated by Lefebvre d'Argencé, pl.XXXVII and the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore (accession number 42.250). Another example dated to the Song Dynasty was exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London in 1975, illustrated in Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, London, 1975, Catalogue no.277.
Compare a pale green, white and brown jade rhyton dated to the 16th/17th century in the British Museum, which is also carved with the monster head engulfing the cup, illustrated by J.Rawson, ibid, no.29:8. Later Qing Dynasty examples can be found in the Musée Guimet, France, illustrated by J.Chapman, 'Coupe ou Rhyton: La corne de rhinocéros des Collections Baur', Collections Baur, Spring/Summer 1989, p.9, and the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated The Refined Taste of the Emperor. Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, Catalogueno.34.
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS, WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS, 28 May 2010, 12:00 HKT, HONG KONG, JW MARRIOTT HOTEL