Exquisitely carved in high relief with a naturalistic scene of two chi dragons, their bifurcated tails intertwined at the ends, the handle formed by bamboo and lingzhi rising from a reticulated foot and extending over the rim, the interior deftly carved with raised and sunken knobs. 16.5cm (6 1/2in) wide.

Provenance: Li Chun-hung Collection

Notes: The fungus or lingzhi (靈芝) is a symbol of longevity, while bamboo, zhu (竹), is a homophone for 'expressing good wishes', zhu (祝). Together they form the auspicious saying of 'birthday wishes', zhushou (祝壽).

The superb carving on the present lot is a testament to the skill of the master craftsman. The use of highly detailed and intricately carved stems to form the handles and raised foot on floral-themed rhinoceros horn carvings was the predominant style since the late Ming dynasty. Compare with a similarly carved rhinoceros horn libation cup with magnolia motif, dated to the late Ming dynasty, in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated by Chi Jo-hsin, Jiangxin yu xiangong. Mingqing diaoke zhan. Xiangya xijiao pian, Taipei, 2009, pp.108-110, no.26. Both examples have very similarly worked reticulated designs, and their interiors are lightly but skilfully worked with simple petal or swirling motifs, unlike most other examples which are left plain. See also the similar subject matter of chilongand lingzhi on a rhinoceros horn libation cup, jue, late Ming dynasty, from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, no.136. By the Qing dynasty, in comparison with plainly carved Ming dynasty prototypes, more complex and challenging decorative motifs were carved onto the surface of rhinoceros horns. For another related cup carved with chilong and lingzhi, see J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.165, fig.204.

Compare with a related rhinoceros horn 'chilong' libation cup, 17th century, which was sold at Sotheby's London on 11 May 2011, lot 24.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 2016-11-29, 14:00 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY