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Cup


The collectors of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) developed a new interest in contemporary miniature crafts including carvings and snuff bottles. This cup is elaborately carved from a rhinoceros horn and decorated with mythical beasts in relief and incised archaic motifs. The shape was vaguely inspired by ancient bronze vessels, and the cup, together with its carved stand, was intended as a display piece.


Object details

Categories
Food Vessels & Tableware
SCRAN
Object type
Cup
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Stand
  • Cup
Materials and techniques
Rhinoceros horn, carved; with wood stand
Brief description
Cup, carved rhinoceros horn, China, Ming-Qing dynasties, 1600-1700
Physical description
Rhinoceros horn cup with handle, carved with dragons in relief; with carved black wood stand.
Gallery label
CUP. Rhinoceros horn, with handle, carved with dragons in relief; with carved black wood stand. Chinese. H. of cup, 6 1/4 in., H of stand, 4 1/2 in. Bought (Robinson Collection). 162,162a-'79.(pre 2005)
Object history
Purchased from the Robinson Collection, accessioned in 1879. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subject depicted
Dragons
Summary
The collectors of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) developed a new interest in contemporary miniature crafts including carvings and snuff bottles. This cup is elaborately carved from a rhinoceros horn and decorated with mythical beasts in relief and incised archaic motifs. The shape was vaguely inspired by ancient bronze vessels, and the cup, together with its carved stand, was intended as a display piece.
Bibliographic references
  • Rawski, Evelyn S. & Rawson, J. (Eds) China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005 Clunas, Craig. Chinese Carving. London: Sun Tree Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1996. p. 41, fig. 39.
  • Kerr, Rose (ed). T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art and Design. London: V&A Publications, 1991. photo p. 237.
  • Kerr, Rose. 'Gallery Report' in Oriental Art, summer 1991. photograph p. 116.
  • Ayers, John. Oriental Art in the V&A . London : Philip Wilson and Summerfield Press, 1983. photo on p. 35
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
162&A-1879

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Record createdFebruary 29, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94184/cup/
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