λ A CHINESE RHINOCEROS HORN 'THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER' LIBATION CUP

17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Carved to the exterior with pairs of phoenix, cranes, ducks and other birds amidst pine, prunus and bamboo, the trunks of the pine trees forming the handle, with simple petals incised to the interior, all raised on a short circular base worked as rocks, 13.6cm, 172g.

Please note that an export licence will only be granted for rhinoceros horn pieces should the hammer price meet or exceed the value of 100 USD per gram of the item's weight.

Cf. Christie's New York, 19th September 2007, lot 3 and 22nd March 2012, lot 1690 for two comparable pieces also carved with pairs of phoenix, cranes and other birds amidst foliage and rocks; see also J Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, p.187, nos.253 and 254 for two further related examples in the Chester Beatty Library, the former decorated with a pair of cranes against rocks, the latter with two phoenix.