Rhinoceros horn flint case with dragon decor, 18th century.-China Archive

Image Number: K1G000134N000000000PAB
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Category: Carvings
Function: Container
Material: Animal/horn/rhinoceros horn
Description:
The cover and the body are all high relief water ripples, in which eight dragons playing with pearls are carved simultaneously: the two sides of the front and back are the same, with a dragon carved on the top, a fire bead carved on the bottom, a small dragon on the right, two dragons on the bottom, with their heads facing the fire bead. Both sides are decorated with vine patterns. The upper part of the vessel is the lid, with the edge of the lid shaped like a lotus petal and carved with thin Kui patterns in the form of a folded belt. There are two dragons on each side of the body and the cover, forming a picture of Canglong’s teachings. Usually, the finished products carved with rhinoceros horn are mostly made into horn cups, and few are made into sickle boxes. This fire sickle box in the Qing Palace is carved from a rhinoceros horn. When the whole piece is closed, it is nearly axe shaped, hollow, narrow at the top and slightly wide at the bottom, thin at the edge, bulging in the middle, and can be separated from top to bottom. The overlap is very deep. The upper and lower ends are respectively provided with rectangular holes to facilitate the threading and tying of the belt. There are carved coral beads on the upper and lower ends of the bright yellow ribbon.