A CHINESE RHINOCEROS HORN 'NINE DRAGON' LIBATION CUP17TH CENTURYCarved in the form of a large veined lotus leaf with swirling waves encircling its base, with nine chilong dragons emerging from water and climbing up the outer walls and over the flared rim, the horn with a rich, dark patina, 15.5cm long, 9cm high, 280g.Provenance: from the collection of William Cleverley Alexander (1840-1916) and thence by descent.William Cleverley Alexander (1840-1916) was one of the most noted connoisseurs of his day, an accomplished draughtsman and a member of the Burlington Fine Arts Club, he was renowned for his taste in Western paintings and Asian works of art. The collection was started in 1867 and included items form the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.Cf. T Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, p.50, no.3 for a similar libation cup; see also Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession no.44.8.2, for a rhinoceros cup of a very similar design.