Rare 17th Century Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Lion Box

An extremely rare Chinese rhinoceros horn box and cover, late…
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An extremely rare Chinese rhinoceros horn box and cover, late Ming/early Qing Dynasty, 17th century, carved in the form of a Buddhist lion and cub, the details exquisitely rendered, their tails extending under the base and curling around the feet., 12 cm wide, Fitted box. Provenance: Sydney private collection; purchased from the Ray Mitchell collection, 1997; ex John Hilliard collection, London, 1970's. Rhinoceros horn boxes are very rare and no others of this form are known to have been published. See T. Fok 'Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China', HK 1999, no 128, p179 for a 17th century box and cover carved with a chilong dragon in the Harvard University Art Museum. 17th century bamboo boxes of similar form may be found; see C. Clunas 'Chinese Carving' London 1996, fig 43, p45 for a similar box with a lion and cub, dated 1600-1650.

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  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

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