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Auction archive: Lot number 375

A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE RHINOCEROS HORN INSCRIBED 'LOG-RAFT' CUP ...

Estimate
US$1,200,000 - US$1,800,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Auction archive: Lot number 375

A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE RHINOCEROS HORN INSCRIBED 'LOG-RAFT' CUP ...

Estimate
US$1,200,000 - US$1,800,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Beschreibung:

A superb and extremely rare rhinoceros horn inscribed 'log-raft' cup signed You Yuyuan (possibly identifiable as You Kan or You Tong) Qing dynasty, Qianlong period formed using the entire length of the horn in masterful fashion, the hornbase cut open and steamed upwards to form an arching 'bridge' over an evenly-symmetrical central bowl, its rounded walls formed from the opening of an axial slice, finely hollowed under the 'bridge' and leading back towards a lobed terminal cavity with foliated rim, and further channelled towards the horn-tip to form an elongated spout, with a flanking parallel section finely split and carved as a branching log section with finely formed gnarls, the exterior of the raft accented with burls and knots, and set upon rolling waves issuing from a pair of spiralling whirl-pools on the underside of the vessel with billowing crests breaking up the sides of the raft, the 'bridge' superbly pierced and carved with the small figure of Zhang Qian, as a bearded sage seated happily upon an arching branch of lush peony blooms, with one twisting branch crossing his chest and securing him in place while framing his profoundly joyful expression, the exterior of the foliated rear bowl of the raft finely carved with the inscription zai lai hua jia zi, and a combination of a circular and a square seal reading You and Yuyuan, all in stylised archaistic zhuanshu script 12 1/4 by 4 1/8 in., 31 by 10.4 cm

Auction archive: Lot number 375
Beschreibung:

A superb and extremely rare rhinoceros horn inscribed 'log-raft' cup signed You Yuyuan (possibly identifiable as You Kan or You Tong) Qing dynasty, Qianlong period formed using the entire length of the horn in masterful fashion, the hornbase cut open and steamed upwards to form an arching 'bridge' over an evenly-symmetrical central bowl, its rounded walls formed from the opening of an axial slice, finely hollowed under the 'bridge' and leading back towards a lobed terminal cavity with foliated rim, and further channelled towards the horn-tip to form an elongated spout, with a flanking parallel section finely split and carved as a branching log section with finely formed gnarls, the exterior of the raft accented with burls and knots, and set upon rolling waves issuing from a pair of spiralling whirl-pools on the underside of the vessel with billowing crests breaking up the sides of the raft, the 'bridge' superbly pierced and carved with the small figure of Zhang Qian, as a bearded sage seated happily upon an arching branch of lush peony blooms, with one twisting branch crossing his chest and securing him in place while framing his profoundly joyful expression, the exterior of the foliated rear bowl of the raft finely carved with the inscription zai lai hua jia zi, and a combination of a circular and a square seal reading You and Yuyuan, all in stylised archaistic zhuanshu script 12 1/4 by 4 1/8 in., 31 by 10.4 cm

Auction archive: Lot number 375
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