19th Century Rhinoceros Horn Lotus Cup

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A large carved full-tip rhinoceros horn libation cup, 19th century the full length of the horn intricately carved in the form of a deep lotus leaf, borne on a long curved stem within an openwork arrangement of further sinuous stems bearing lotus flowers and leaves and reeds with clusters of fruits, all issuing from a further cupped lotus leaf at the tip, the horn of light caramel tone shading to brown at the tip, 60.5 cm long. Provenance, Sotheby's Belgravia, 14 July 1977, lot 57, The Zorich Collection, Adelaide, thence by descent, Show Catalogue Notes, Catalogue Notes, The present cup is impressive for its deeply undercut form and large size. The carver has made use of the entire length of the horn.The lotus plant is one of the most popular decorative themes in rhinoceros horn carvings. Homonymous with the word for peace the lotus (he) is symbolic of the pure and elevated character of virtuous gentlemen which appealed to the gentry and literati., For examples of related full-tip rhinoceros horn cups see one on loan in the Durham University Oriental Museum, illustrated by Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, p. 73, pl. 38, where the author notes that the majority of these extravagant full-tip cups were produced during the 19th century and almost certainly in Canton and suggests the cup may have been commissioned by a European who demanded the largest and longest possible horn with the maximum amount of bravura carving. An early example that may have served as inspiration for later pieces, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Bamboo, Wood, ivory and Rhinoceros horn Carving, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 131 attributed to the late Ming period, Compare with a similarly decorated cup sold Sotheby's London,11 May 2011, lot 20, another carved with lotus and magnolia, sold Christie's South Kensington, 14 May 2010, lot 693, and a pair of cups carved with lotus, iris and reeds, sold Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2013, lot 361

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Ivory - Ivory is a hard white material that comes from the tusks of elephants, mammoth, walrus and boar, or from the teeth of hippopotamus and whales. The ivory from the African elephant is the most prized source of ivory. Although the mammoth is extinct, tusks are still being unearthed in Russia and offered for sale.

Ivory has been used since the earliest times as a material for sculpture of small items, both in Europe and the east, principally China and Japan.

In Asia ivory has been carved for netsuke, seals, okimono, card cases, fan supports, animals and other figures and even as carved tusks.

In the last 200 years in Europe ivory has been used to carve figures, for elaborate tankards, snuff boxes, cane handles, embroidery and sewing accessories, in jewellery and as inlay on furniture. Its more practical uses include being used for billiard balls, buttons, and a veneers on the top of piano keys.

The use and trade of elephant ivory have become controversial because they have contributed to Due to the decline in elephant populations because of the trade in ivory, the Asian elephant was placed on Appendix One of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in 1975, and in January 1990, the African elephant was similarly listed. Under Appendix One, international trade in Asian or African elephant ivory between member countries is forbidden. Unlike trade in elephant tusks, trade in mammoth tusks is legal.

Since the invention of plastics, there have been many attempts to create an artificial ivory
Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Attributed - A cataloguing term where the item in the opinion of the cataloguers, is a of the period of the artist, craftsman or designer, and which probably in whole or part is the work of that person.
Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.

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19th Century Rhinoceros Horn Lotus Cup

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