A finely carved 'Ode to the Red Cliff' rhinoceros horn libation cup
Late Ming / early Qing dynasty
Superbly carved in deep relief to depict a scene from 'Ode to the Red Cliff', depicting Su Dongpo accompanied by two other figures seated on a raft on a fast-flowing river, all below large, cragged rock faces, a cascading waterfall and over-hanging pine and wutong trees, with a scholar and attendant seated on the riverbank, a large gnarled pine tree forming the openwork handle, the horn of a warm honey tone, carved wood stand.
17.5cm wide. (2).
Superbly carved in deep relief to depict a scene from 'Ode to the Red Cliff', depicting Su Dongpo accompanied by two other figures seated on a raft on a fast-flowing river, all below large, cragged rock faces, a cascading waterfall and over-hanging pine and wutong trees, with a scholar and attendant seated on the riverbank, a large gnarled pine tree forming the openwork handle, the horn of a warm honey tone, carved wood stand.
17.5cm wide. (2).
Sold for
HK$ 2,280,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- 明末/清初 犀角雕赤壁賦杯
Provenance來源:
Old English family collection, acquired in the 19th century, and thence by descent to the current owner
The subject matter of 'The Ode to the Red Cliff', the famous poem by the Song dynasty painter Su Shi, was reserved for some of the finest rhinoceros horn libation cups of the late Ming / early Qing dynasty. For an example of similar high quality in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, donated by J. Pierpont Morgan, see Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pg. 210, pl. 289.
Lot heading
The Property of an old English family collection (lots 458-459)
Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art
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