A large archaistic rhinoceros horn 'nine dragon' libation cup


17th centuryExpertly carved around the exterior with a band of archaistic taotie mask patterns interrupted by several clambering chilong with bifurcated tails, the openwork strap handle flanked by further chilong and with three more chilong crawling along the rim, the mouth and foot rims with key-fret bands, the horn of a dark chocolate brown tone. 22.9cm (7 1/2in) long.
|十七世紀 犀角仿古饕餮紋九龍耳盃Provenance: Maurice (1853-1922) and Marguerite Sulzbach (1863-1945), and thence by descent來源： Maurice(1853-1922)及Marguerite Sulzbach(1863-1945)伉儷收藏，並由後人保存迄今For a related archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup with taotie and several chi-dragons, late Ming dynasty, see Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, p.151, no.133. Another closely related rhinoceros horn libation cup with similar design of dragons and taotie masks, 17th century, is illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.88, no.41.Compare with a similar archaistic rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 26 May 2014, lot 122.