Lot 3646. A rhinoceros horn 'Three friends' libation cup, 17th – 18th century, overall height 20 cm, 7 7/8  in. Estimate 300,000 — 400,000 HKD. Lot sold 750,000 HKD (90,759 EUR) (96,518 USD). Photo: Sotheby's

the flared sides carved in various levels of relief depicting the Three Friends of Winter, including flowering prunus, leafy bamboo and two parallel knotted pine tree forming a double handle, all issuing from cragged rockwork forming the base, the horn of a dark honey-brown tone, fitted wood stand

Provenance: Collection of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85), gifted by Viceroy Li Hongzhang (1823-1901) in the 1870s, by repute, thence by descent.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 05 Apr 2017