A CARVED ALOESWOOD 'LANDSCAPE' LIBATION CUP
17th/18th century
Carved to the exterior in high relief with a continuous mountainous scene depicting a sage, with one hand holding a cup, the other hand pointing up to the sky, seated on rocks in front of a cottage amongst pavilions, pine and wutong trees, with high peaks in the distance, the wood of a chocolate-brown tone.
9.5cm (3 3/4in) high
Footnotes:
十七/十八世紀 沉香木雕山水人物圖盃

The present representation features a solitary scholar drinking amongst a mountainous landscape, encapsulating the essence of scholarly seclusion that resonated widely among the literati of the 17th century. Compare with a related early Qing Dynasty chenxiangmu carved 'landscape' brushpot in the Beijing Palace Museum, illustrated in Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 2010, p.129.

See also a related carved chenxiangmu cup, 17th/18th century, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 30 November 2022, lot 144.

General old wear and cracking. Some losses around the base.
The interior and parts of the exterior have been covered with a lacquer like material, presumably to cover stress lines and cracks. This material is part flaking and cracking.