Antique Chinese Carved Water Buffalo Horn Cup Daoist Immortals Pine c.1880
This product data sheet is originally written in English.
An authentic late 19th-century Chinese carved cup, handcrafted from water buffalo horn, Qing dynasty, circa 1880. The tradition of carved Chinese horn vessels has a long history, with elaborate horn cups for drinking wine becoming particularly widespread from the Ming dynasty onward and later developing into highly prized objects among scholars and collectors. The vessel has a beautifully contoured asymmetric rim enriched with finely carved decoration. One side is formed with a prominent loop handle carved as the trunk and branches of an old pine tree.
The exterior is deeply carved in high relief with a continuous panoramic landscape depicting the traditional Daoist Immortals in a Pine Forest theme. The multi-figure composition features a Chinese scholar standing beside an altar table with an incense burner, together with a seated bearded immortal wearing a traditional scholar's cap. The figures are set among old pine trees, rocky cliffs, stylized flying bats symbolizing good fortune and longevity, and lingzhi sacred fungus, a traditional Chinese symbol of longevity and immortality.
The handle and upper branches are finely carved with the distinctive scaled texture of old pine bark, traditionally known in Chinese art as "dragon-scale" bark. The deeply undercut carving gives the scene strong three-dimensional depth, with individual pine branches projecting freely from the body and forming openwork sections. Traditional hand-tool marks remain visible throughout the carved relief.
The material has a rich dark brown patina, with a polished satin sheen and warm amber translucency near the rim. The underside reveals a distinct concentric layered growth structure, while the interior shows the characteristic fibrous structure of natural buffalo horn, becoming denser and more porous toward the base.
Dimensions: Height: 10 cm; Width: 9 cm; Depth: 5 cm; Weight: 228 g
Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.
An authentic late 19th-century Chinese carved cup, handcrafted from water buffalo horn, Qing dynasty, circa 1880. The tradition of carved Chinese horn vessels has a long history, with elaborate horn cups for drinking wine becoming particularly widespread from the Ming dynasty onward and later developing into highly prized objects among scholars and collectors. The vessel has a beautifully contoured asymmetric rim enriched with finely carved decoration. One side is formed with a prominent loop handle carved as the trunk and branches of an old pine tree. The exterior is deeply carved in high relief with a continuous panoramic landscape depicting the traditional Daoist Immortals in a Pine Forest theme. The multi-figure composition features a Chinese scholar standing beside an altar table with