**A PAIR OF RHINOCEROS HORN CARVINGS

19TH CENTURY

细节

**A PAIR OF RHINOCEROS HORN CARVINGS
19th Century
Each well carved as a large lotus leaf borne aloft by a stem tangled within numerous stems and branches, including lotus, bearing buds and furled leaves and wheat or millet stalks, amongst which perches a kingfisher, the whole forming the upper section of the openwork handle, continuing down as swirling water with fish, shown with well-defined scales, fan-like tails and bulging eyes, the horn an attractive honey color
16in. (40.6cm.) long, carved wood stands (2)

拍品专文

A single carved rhinoceros horn of this type, but of larger size (56.5cm.) dated between 1840-1880 in the Victoria & Albert Museum, is illustrated by Craig Clunas, Chinese Carving, London, 1996, p. 42, fig. 41, where he notes that carvings of this type were possible during the late Qing period with the importation of the "very large horns of the African white rhinoceros", and that they were set on equally elaborate stands, such as those of the present example. A large pair of rhinoceros horn carvings of this type, also with intricately carved wood stands, was sold in these rooms, November 27, 1991, lot 9