Wine Cup, 12th-13th century
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
White nephrite with yellow-brown markingsexpand_more
The John R. Van Derlip Fund and Gift of the Thomas Barlow Walker Foundationexpand_more 92.103.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
This rhyton, carved in the shape of a rhinoceros-horn cup, is decorated with dragons in both low and high relief. Rhino horn, like jade itself, was expensive and exotic. It became popular material for decorative carving as early as the Sung dynasty (11th-12th century) and remained so through the nineteenth century. This vessel reflects the antiquarian taste that developed among the scholar classes at the Sung court and continued through Yuan (14th century) and early Ming (15th century). The dragon decor here derived from the ancient Chou style (6th century b.c.) of bronze ornamentation. Scholars of Sung greatly revered their own antiquity and took delight in commissioning and collecting objects that recalled the shapes and decorations of the Bronze Age.
Details
- Title
- Wine Cup
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 92.103.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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