Lot description
A FINELY CARVED 'MYTHICAL BEAST' RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP MING DYNASTY, EARLY 17TH CENTURY The elegantly proportioned tapering body carved in shallow relief around the mid-section with a band depicting two pairs of confronted archaistic kui dragons separated by serrated flanges, below a band of interlinked stylised phoenix, and above a band of further phoenix around the splayed foot, the flattened rim carved with a key-pattern band, one end with an openwork handle comprising five elaborately entwined mythical beasts, each rendered with a beak and a single horn, the recessed base with the maker's mark Hu Xingyue zuo in seal script, the material of a warm honey tone 4 in. (10 cm.) high, wood stand, box Weight: 6.3 oz. (180 gm.)
