A Libation Cup Carved From Rock Crystal From Chilong. China, Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

A very rare libation cup made of rock crystal. Two Chilong (dragons) form the handles. One of the Chilong’s front legs was broken off and is now lost. It is very rare to find very old Chinese rock crystal objects; all those available on the market are always 20th-century creations and sometimes even modern. Rock crystal did not enjoy the nearly sacred prestige associated with jade in China; moreover, it is harder and more brittle, requiring greater effort and risk-taking on the part of the artist—indeed, a rock crystal sculpture could crack during the carving process; finally, it was necessary to find a block large enough and free of significant cracks. This fragility partly explains the rarity of the objects that have survived—and the loss of the Chilong’s leg. Chinese work from the Ming period, 17th century or earlier. Width: 99 mm.