Carved rhinoceros horn in high relief, the possibly original base carved of hardwood China, 16th – 17th century The body skillfully carved in the form of a large lingzhi fungus issuing from a stem curling round the base and up the side to form the foot and handle together with leafy bamboo stalks extending round the sides with further smaller lingzhi, over which clamber two sinuous qilong and long curling bifurcated tails, the horn of a warm honey-brown tone. The sacred fungus is an especially important symbol of immortality and this cup may have been given as a birthday gift. Shape: Libation cup Dimensions: 13,5 cm (diameter) Condition: Very good condition with some wear, minor insect bite, one small chip to rim reattached Provenance: Austrian private collection Literature comparison: Classicism in Continuum - The Arts of the Ming. Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, October 7th, 2016, lot 911. (for a closely related cup) The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, illustrated in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pls. 205 and 206. (for closely related cups) The Gerard Levy collection, Paris, illustrated in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 204. (for another closely related cup, where the plant stem is also used as a handle and the interior is shaped as part of the fungus plant). 十六至十七世紀犀牛角“靈芝螭龍”祝壽杯 高浮雕犀牛角，硬木底座可能為原裝 中國，十六至十七世紀 杯體被巧妙地雕刻成一棵大靈芝，莖部上卷一個圓形的基部和側面形成腳和柄，連同葉狀的竹稈一起延伸到更小的靈芝兩側，在其上面停留著兩隻螭龍，有著長長的捲曲尾巴，柔和的棕蜜色。 靈芝象徵著不朽和長壽，這個杯子很可能是作為生日禮物而制。 形狀：祝壽杯型 尺寸：13,5 cm (直徑) 品相極好，有些磨損，有蟲咬小洞，足部小裂口修補過 奧地利私人收藏 文獻參考：《Classicism in Continuum - The Arts of the Ming》，蘇富比香港，2016年10月7日，911號拍品（一個相近的杯子） Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, October 7th, 2016, lot 911. (for a closely related cup) ；切斯特·比替图书馆，都柏林，出版于 Jan Chapman《中國犀牛角雕藝術》The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China，倫敦，1999年，圖 205 及 206 (一個相似的杯子)； The Gerard Levy 收藏，巴黎，出版于Jan Chapman《中國犀牛角雕藝術》The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China，倫敦，1999年，圖 204 (另一個形似的杯子，樹枝為柄，杯内雕刻成靈芝形狀)