Footnotes

十七世紀 犀角雕八仙祝壽杯

Provenance:
An important European private collection

來源：
重要歐洲私人收藏

The carving of the Immortals in high relief reserved against the lotus leaf, is further accentuated by the reticulated and pierced base on which the figures are raised, demonstrating the virtuosity of the master carver.

Compare related rhinoceros horn libation cups, similarly carved with the Daoist Immortals, 17th century, in the Osaka Municipal Museum, and in the Chester Beatty Library, illustrated by J.Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pls.266 and 270-271; see also the cup illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pl.82. For a related rhinoceros horn libation cup, early Qing dynasty, carved with the Eight Immortals, from the Qing Court collection, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, pl.148.

The figures represented on the exterior of the rhinoceros horn cup are Shoulao and the Eight Immortals, a group of legendary deities depicted in Chinese Daoist mythology, consisting of Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, Han Xiangzi, Zhong Liquan, Li Tieguai and Cao Guojiu. Together they form the auspicious pun representing wishes for longevity, baxian pengshou (八仙捧壽). This subject matter would have been suitable for a birthday celebration.

See a related rhinoceros horn 'Eight Immortals' libation cup, early 17th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2012, lot 2165; another related example, 17th century, was sold at Christie's New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1233.

蓮花式杯身，內壁陰刻葉脈，鏤雕捲曲葉莖作杯底，外壁高浮雕八仙圍繞，壽老於杯流下方，人物面目清晰傳神，足見工匠嫻熟技藝。

以道家神仙為主題雕刻之犀角杯，見日本大阪市立博物館藏十七世紀一例，以及切斯特圖書館收藏一例，著錄於J.Chapman，《The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China》，倫敦，1999年，圖版266及270-271。另見霍滿堂先生舊藏十七世紀八仙賀壽杯，著錄於《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，圖82。北京故宮博物院清宮舊藏清早期一例，見《故宮博物院珍藏文物珍品全集：竹木牙角雕刻》，香港，2002年，頁172，圖148。

拍賣售出類似之例，見香港佳士得，2012年11月28日，拍品2165；另見紐約佳士得，2011年9月15日，拍品1233。