In 2023, a rhinoceros horn libation cup, a Chinese mystical treasure dating from the late 17th century, was sold at auction in England for £17,000. This rare object was rediscovered in a garage in England.
Did your garage contain a treasure? In 2023, Hansons Auctionners shared an exceptional discovery. While Charles Hanson, owner of the auction house, was visiting clients' homes for an appraisal, the couple presented him with a curious object they kept in their garage. This one was actually a rare rhinoceros horn libation cup, dating from the Kangxi period (1662-1723) of the Qing dynasty, just after the Ming period. This ” magical discovery », according to Charles Hanson, estimated between £3,000 and £5,000 (i.e. between €3,460 and €5,760) but has soared in view of the demand for Chinese antiquities and in particular for horns which sell at high prices. gold due to their supposed aphrodisiac properties. It was sold for £17,000 on November 30 at Etwall.
A cup with magical properties
Inherited from a grandparent of the current owner, the cup carved from rhinoceros horn, in brown colors and honey reflections, is composed of a flared base, elements representing archaic motifs in its center and 'a cove made of Chinese dragons Chilongone of whose mythological creatures leans towards the inside of the container.
Detail of the dragon leaning towards the inside of the cup. ©Mark Laban Hansons
During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), many sculptures were made from rhino horn thanks to trade between China and Africa. “ There are numerous references in ancient Chinese historical literature to objects made of rhino horn, explains the auction house in a press release. The Taoists attributed magical properties to it. During the Tang Dynasty (618-806 AD), they were carved to make drinking vessels. These were used in ceremonies honoring ancestors and given to scholars who passed exams. »
Discovered by chance in a garage in England, this strange object turns out to be a rare Chinese antique. ©Mark Laban Hansons
The rhino horn, one of the “eight precious symbols” in Chinese mythology
In ancient China, the horn was thought to change color to alert the drinker to the presence of poison, and to have aphrodisiac properties. “ Rhinoceros horn is considered one of the “eight precious symbols” representing luck and prosperity in Chinese mythologycontinue Hansons Auctionners. This represents victory. Its special place in Chinese culture reinforces its importance and value. » More decorative than functional, these libation cups were primarily used for display on ornate hardwood shelves. They could be used on important occasions to hold a ceremonial drink.
Detail of the dragons on the rhinoceros horn libation cup. ©Mark Laban Hansons
Several museums and cultural places keep similar Qing cups in their collections, from the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin (Ireland) to the Osaka Municipal Museum (Japan), including the Georges Labit Museum in Toulouse. Today, rhino horn is highly regulated (these mammals are endangered). However, when the material is carved for an ancient work of Art, it may be imported to other countries.
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