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Rhinoceros horn cup carved with magnolia design

Qianlong reign (1736–1795), Qing dynasty

Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Brown in color, the tone of this cup is darker towards the base. Shaped like a magnolia, it has a deep round body and a flaring mouth. The interior is incised with outlined petals, while magnolias in openwork carving fully cover the exterior, extend over the mouth rim, the handle and the base.

Whether used for making vessels or as medicine, rhinoceros horn was very highly regarded in ancient China. Rhino cups were made from the Western Zhou period onward. After the expedition of Zheng He to South Asia and Africa in the early Ming period, the influx of the raw material led to the popularity of such cups. The trend continued in the Qing dynasty.

Such finely carved rhino cups were not only practical drinking vessels, but also pleasing ornaments for the scholar's desk. Rhino cups were most commonly engraved with floral, landscape and figure designs, as well as shaped in imitation of antique vessels.

Details

  • Title: Rhinoceros horn cup carved with magnolia design
  • Date Created: Qianlong reign (1736–1795), Qing dynasty
  • Physical Dimensions: 15.7 cm × 9.9 cm
  • Provenance: Gift of B.Y. Lam Foundation
  • Type: Horn Carving
  • Rights: Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
  • Medium: Rhinoceros Horn
  • Accession number: 1974.0056

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