Rhinoceros horn carved dragon handle cup

[Rhinoceros horn carved dragon handle cup]

Rhinoceros horn carved dragon handle cup, 11.5 cm high, 13.5-8.5 cm caliber, 5 cm foot diameter
The cup is made of rhinoceros horn and has a wide top and narrow bottom. It is in the shape of an ancient Gu. The author carved the handle and foot of the cup into a dragon shape with the circular carving technique to hold up the cup body. The head and tail of the dragon are on both sides of the cup, and the head and upper limbs are attached to the cup mouth. The dragon body is covered with scales and decorated with flame patterns. Three small dragons are carved as a lining, one is coiled at the tail of the dragon, and the other two are floating on the inside of the cup mouth. The cup wall decoration is divided into three groups. Upper relief square Kui pattern decoration; The middle part is embossed with a symmetrical pattern of two dragons playing with beads, two groups of dragons bending their necks and dancing, and the lower part is decorated with wave patterns
The shape of this cup takes the meaning of “Canglong Godson”. It has both antique style and originality. It is an excellent work in rhinoceros horn carving in the Qing Dynasty because of its superb carving technique, excellent knife technique, both round and relief, and fine and exquisite patterns
This cup was donated to the Palace Museum by Mr. Ye Yi, a famous doctor in Hong Kong, in 1985


犀角雕螭纹龙柄杯局部