A RARE SMALL RHINOCEROS HORN WINE CUP, China, Qing dynasty, the thick body tapers in a curved line from the broad circular footed base to the everted rim. The lustrous undecorated material is of a rich golden tone darkening to a grey brown. - Property from an old German private collection, assembled prior to 1990 - Cf. T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 110, no. 63; The form of this cup with its thick sides and broad foot ring is reminiscent of the yashoubei, which literally means 'fitting into one's palm', of the Ming period. As such it is markedly different to the much thinner walls and narrow foot rims found on Qing dynasty cups which are closer to those made in the ceramic form. It has been noted by the author that this streaked fibrous rhinoceros horn was known as banxi, see T. Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, 1999, p. 110 - Few very short age cracks