17th century Rhinoceros horn carving in the Ming Dynasty

Size: 10.8 x 8.3 x 7 cm

Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art   Longri Compilation

Congratulations on the birthday of Zen Master Dharma

      Rhinoceros horn is one of the most famous tooth horn materials. The "horn" in the four carvings of "bamboo wood tooth horn", which is often said, mainly refers to the rhinoceros horn. In ancient China, rhinoceros horn was very precious, and it was mostly a tribute gift between countries. According to the Book of Han, "Zhao Tuo, the king of Nanyue, presented ten rhinoceros horns of Emperor Wen." According to the Warring States Policy · Chu Policy, the king of Chu "sent hundreds of envoys to present the rhinoceros of chicken fright and the wall of night light to the king of Qin." Since the rhinoceros horns of long history would be eroded, there are few rhinoceros horn products handed down, and there are less than 4 rhinoceros horn sculptures in the world today 000 pieces, most of which were collected by well-known foreign museums and large collectors. This is the best piece of art collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States. The cutin is fine and dense, the color is like honey, and it is light brown and translucent. With exquisite carving, exquisite and smooth knife technique, and natural and vivid patterns, it is a masterpiece of rhinoceros horn products, and it is well preserved and very precious.