Carved Rhinoceros Horn Cup with Dragon Handle

This carved rhinoceros horn cup was probably produced for ceremonial purposes as suggested by the magical healing powers of the horn in Chinese culture. The cup is decorated with auspicious animals. These include what looks like a horse or unicorn with a phoenix on its left. Below the phoenix is a pair of tortoises. To the left of the phoenix there seems to be a house sitting on a cliff with a dragon just a litter farther to the left. At the bottom of the cup, below the dragon and house, there is another supernatural creature which could be a fo-dog. Hanging onto the mouth of the cup we see another dragon flanked on each side by smaller creatures. The rest of the exterior of the cup is decorated with clouds which may represent an ethereal realm. The teakwood carved stand is detached from the cup. It does not seem to be original because the base of the cup is a different shape from the shape of the stand. The stand is probably not original as it does not show the age of the horn or the wear and tear. The stand has also been screwed to the horn which is a sign that it is more recent