Rhino horn libation cup is the best tip for Mealy's art and antiques auction

The enormous piece of Asian art is certain to fascinate collectors at this week's sale

Mealy's Fine Art will sell more than 1,200 lots of fine and decorative art at an auction tomorrow, Tuesday, October  4, and Wednesday, October 5, commencing at 10:30 a.m. each day at its gallery in Castlecomer, Ireland.

For those who cannot travel to County Kilkenny, LiveAuctioneers will facilitate Internet live bidding.

The sale will include selected items from Lyons Demesne on the instructions of the representative of the late Dr. Tony Ryan (approximately 300 lots) and an executor sale of the contents of a period home in the South East.

Then there is a private collection of family crested Irish and other silver (recently removed from an Irish bank vault); Oriental art from a gentleman's private family collection, brought out of China before the onset of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937; together with an array of fine and decorative art and other personal property from Irish estates and private collections.

This cup runneth at you... the massive rhino horn libation cup

Day one includes ceramics, glass, silver and plate, works of art, Oriental art, tribal art, taxidermy, musical instruments, militaria and edged weapons.

Day two will be 18th, 19th and 20th century furniture, paintings and carpets/rugs, chimney pieces and fire furniture.

One of the overall highlights will doubtless be a massive antique Chinese carved full-tip Rhinoceros Horn 'Lotus' Libation Cup, probably from the Qing Dynasty, 19th century. It is a startling 15.5" (39cms) long.

The cup is in the form of a lotus leaf on a curved stem, profusely carved in open work and intertwining foliage, incorporating assorted typical motifs such as flowers, crabs bats, birds and mythical creatures.

Watch this space for the results as soon as they come in.

Recent and related articles

·Terrifying Mixtec mosaic mask could scare collectors into parting with $150,000 | 26 September 2011

·Surprise for local family as Madonna and Child art sells for $184,000 | 26 September 2011

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Images: Mealy's