A RARE ENAMELLED WATER-BUFFALO-HEAD RHYTON Qianlong Naturalistically modelled as a water-buffalo head with an alert expression, the interior hollow and opening at the neck to form a cup, detailed with curved horns, bulging eyes and fur markings, the horns and one nostril bound with a raised rope, wood stand. 11.5cm (4 1/2in) long. (2). Footnotes: Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 清乾隆 五彩水牛頭形來通杯 Provenance: Sotheby's New York, lot 802 (label) Bluett & Sons Ltd., London (label and collector's notes) A private collection, San Francisco Ascot Court Antiques, Saint Louis Acquired from R & G McPherson Antiques, London, on 11 June 2014 (label and collector's notes) Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: The Oriental Ceramic Society, China Without Dragons: Rare Pieces from Oriental Ceramic Society Members, London, 2016, p.320, no.190 M.White, Beasts at the Whites' House: A selection of ceramics from the Whites' House collection, vol.1, n.p, 2020, p.9 (Published and Illustrated) 來源：紐約蘇富比，拍品編號802（標簽和藏家筆記） 倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons Ltd.（標簽和藏家筆記） 私人收藏，舊金山 美國聖路易斯古董商Ascot Court Antiques 獲得于倫敦古董商R & G McPherson Antiques，2014年6月11日（標簽和藏家筆記） 展覽著錄：東方陶瓷學會，《龍隱: 英國東方陶瓷學會會員珍稀藏品展圖錄》，倫敦，2016年，第320頁，編號190 M.White，《Beasts at the Whites' House: A selection of ceramics from the Whites' House collection》，第1冊，2020年，第9頁（著錄） The rhyton cup originated in Iran, where such vessels were produced in gold and silver, and was likely introduced to China via Central Asia. The form gained popularity during the Han and Tang dynasties, with surviving examples executed in jade and ceramic. See a related white-glazed lion-head rhyton, Tang dynasty, in the collection of the British Museum, London (acc.no.1968,0422.21).The continued production of rhyton cups into the 18th century may be understood as a conscious archaism embraced by cultural elites. See a related ox-head rhyton, 1725-1730, illustrated by D.Howard and J.Ayers, China for the West: Chinese Porcelain and other Decorative Arts for Export illustrated from the Mottahedeh Collection, London, 1978, vol.II, pl.604, p.583. See a related green-glazed water buffalo rhyton cup, Kangxi, which was sold at Bonhams London, 2 November 2023, lot 178. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing