Rhinoceros horn carved crane deer Tongchun cup

[Rhinoceros Carved Crane and Deer Tongchun Cup]

Rhinoceros Carved Crane and Deer Tongchun Cup, mid-Qing Dynasty, 17.6cm high, 17.8 caliber × 10 cm
The cup is made of African rhinoceros horn. Its material is warm and crystal, and its color is as yellow as the field. It can be called the treasure of rhinoceros. The body of the cup is carved by carving, embossing and other carving techniques to depict a scene of deer and cranes in the same spring. At the side of the cliff and stream, two old people were chatting with each other, smiling. A boy stood behind him, with a book box in his arms, smiling. Old forests and ancient pines, towering over the sky and blocking the sun, have a tranquil and quiet artistic conception. Two deer are embossed on the side of the stream. One deer is prone, and the other wants to test the water in the stream; Another crane is looking for food in the stream. A crane looks back and looks like playing with his companions. Cranes and deer have different postures and vivid images. Cranes and deer are ancient auspicious objects. According to Huainanzi Shuolinxun, “Cranes live for thousands of years and travel extremely”. Wang Jian’s poem “Gossip”, “Cranes live for thousands of years without gods”, and deer are homophonic, so cranes and deer have the meaning of blessing and celebrating longevity
The design of this cup is clear, well-arranged and exquisite, which shows the author’s exquisite craftsmanship and is a high-quality rhino carving in the middle of the Qing Dynasty.

犀角镂雕鹤鹿同春杯犀角镂雕鹤鹿同春杯俯视