China, late Qing Dynasty. Using the full length of the horn, the intricate openwork carving depicts a lush panoply of squirrels on grapevines. The horn is of a warm golden honey-brown tone. With a massive carved and pierced wood stand, similarly decorated throughout with bunches of grapes on vines. (2)

Provenance: Joseph Vallot (16 February 1854 – 11 April 1925). Maître Lair Dubreuil, Commissaire-Priseur, Paris, February 2nd, 1926. Gaston LAZARD (1878-1956), Paris, France. Jane LEVY (1886-1985), wife of the above, Paris France. Thence by descent to the present owner. A copy of an invoice from Maître Lair Dubreuil, dated February 2nd, 1926, confirming the sale of lot 160 "Corne de Rhinoceros Sculpté" to Monsieur Lazard, the grandfather of the present owner, is accompanying this lot. Joseph Vallot (16 February 1854 – 11 April 1925) was a French scientist, astronomer, botanist, geographer, cartographer and alpinist and "one of the founding fathers of scientific research on Mont Blanc". He is known mainly for his fascination with Mont Blanc and his work in funding and constructing a high-altitude observatory below its summit, and for the many years of study and research work that he and his wife conducted both there, and at their base in Chamonix. The observatory and adjacent refuge that he constructed for use by mountain guides and their clients attempting Mont Blanc summit both still bear his name today, despite being rebuilt in modern times.
Condition: Excellent condition with some old wear, few natural age cracks, and minor chips or losses to exposed areas. The wood base with natural age cracks, minor chips and losses, and light surface scratches overall. The ensemble with a good, naturally grown patina.

Weight: 1,738 g
Dimensions: Height 62.2 cm (total), 49.8 cm (the horn cup)

Lavishly decorated full-tip cups from this group were generally produced from the 19th century onwards, mainly in Canton where they were fashionable and in high demand, especially from Western collectors. The largest possible horns were selected and carved in an extravagant fashion, as clearly demonstrated by the present cup.

Expert’s note: A full-tip rhinoceros cup of this magnificent size, still retaining its matching wood base, and as well preserved as the present lot, is extremely rare, because due to their intricate openwork design these cups are prone to damage.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related rhinoceros cup on loan to the Durham University Oriental Museum, illustrated in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 38. Compare also a related rhinoceros cup, dated to the 19^th century, in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number 243-1896.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1231
Price: USD 314,500 or approx. EUR 405,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large full-tip rhinoceros horn cup, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of carving as well as the similar wood stand. Note the smaller size (55.3 cm) and the different subject.



十九世紀大型鏤空滿雕犀角杯
中國，清末。鏤空雕刻葡萄藤以及活潑的松鼠，葡萄顯得晶瑩剔透。犀角呈溫暖的金蜜色。有一個巨大木架，同樣裝飾著葡萄串。

來源：法國知名私人收藏，在第二次世界大戰之前或之後不久獲得，家族內部的傳承，直到現在的持有者。
品相：狀況極佳，有一些磨損，輕微自然老化裂縫，有輕微碎裂。木底座有自然老化裂縫、輕微碎屑以及整體表面輕微劃痕。整體包漿瑩潤。

重量：1,738 克
尺寸：總高62.2 厘米，杯高 49.8 厘米

這樣華麗滿雕的犀角杯是從十九世紀開始生產，主要在廣州流行且需求量很大，尤其是西方收藏家。

專家注釋：如此巨大尺寸的滿雕犀牛杯，仍保留其配套的木底座，並與目前的拍品一樣保存完好，極為罕見。這些杯子由於其複雜的鏤空設計極其容易損壞。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近犀角杯，收藏於Durham 大學Oriental博物館，見Jan Chapman，《The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China》，倫敦，1999年，頁38。比較一件相近的十九世紀犀角杯，收藏於維多莉亞與亞伯特博物館，編號243-1896。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年9月15日，lot 1231
價格：USD 314,500（相當於今日EUR 405,500）
描述：清十九世紀巨型犀角鏤雕花果仙人盃
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型和雕刻風格，以及相似的木底座。請注意尺寸較小(55.3厘米) ，以及不同主題。