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LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Rhinoceros horn cup, with carved decoration, Chinese, 1701-1800
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Rhinoceros horn cup, with carved decoration, Chinese, 1701-1800
This ornate drinking cup is carved from a rhinoceros horn and is covered in intricate decorations. They show animals including dragons, tortoises and rabbits climbing around the cup as if ascending a mountain. One dragon curls over the lip of the cup. Rhinoceros horn is a form of keratinised hair, the same substance as our fingernails. It is thought to have magical medicinal properties within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
This cup was made in the 1700s. It is highly valuable. Most species of rhinoceros are now listed as endangered animals, making the trade in rhino horn illegal.
Details
- Category:
- Asian Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A642994
- Measurements:
-
overall: 150 mm x 201 mm x 103 mm, .565kg
- type:
- horn cup
