1600-1700

Wine Cup with pine and gourd

Artist/maker unknown

This wine cup was carved from rhinoceros horn to resemble the rough bark of an old pine tree, a symbol of longevity. A gourd and a fan, two attributes of the Eight Daoist Immortals, hang from branches at the back of the cup. The eight immortals, who held supernatural powers, were thought to bring good luck and aid in the search for immortality.

Rhinoceros horn is highly treasured for its medicinal properties, as it is thought to be able to clear away toxins and heat in the body. During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911), such carvings gained great popularity, but as rhinoceroses became endangered, other types of horns were sometimes substituted.