A PAIR OF BAMBOO ROOT CARVED 'LION AND CUB' CUPS Late Ming Dynasty (2)A PAIR OF BAMBOO ROOT CARVED 'LION AND CUB' CUPSLate Ming DynastyEach recumbent lion with its head turned back watching its cub clambering up its back, detailed with their fur, feet, fluffy tail and bared teeth, the forehead flattened and the underside hollowed to serve as a cup, box. Each 12.1cm (4 3/4in) wide. (2).明晚期 竹雕太獅少獅杯一對The present pair of cups draws inspiration from the animal shaped wine cups carved in rhinoceros horn, intricately designed as an ornament when the lion and cub are facing up and as a wine cup when the hollowed part is facing up. Compare with a Ming dynasty Wanli period rhinoceros horn 'deer' cup, illustrated by J. Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p.236, pl.175; see also a late Ming bamboo carved 'lion and cub' cup, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 7 June 2022, lot 3046.取竹根一節，圓雕一獅伏地而坐，頭平頂，雙耳及雙眉後伏，雙目圓睜，口微張，身上再圓雕匍匐一小獅，二獅鬚髮皆細刀鉤挑，線條細密流暢，內膛掏空，翻轉倒立則為酒杯。此杯形制仿犀角雕刻中的動物形酒杯，翻轉為擺件，倒立則為酒杯，頗多佳趣，可比較一件明萬曆犀角雕仙鹿杯，正立為一匍匐仙鹿，倒立則為一杯，見霍滿棠著，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，頁236，編號175。又可參考一件明晚期竹雕太獅少獅杯，與本件頗為相似，2022年6月7日售於香港佳士得，拍品編號3046。