Lot 2175. A finely carved rhinoceros horn 'Three friends of winter' libation cup, Late Ming dynasty; 6 5/8 in. (17 cm.) long. Estimate HKD 1,000,000 - HKD 1,500,000. Price realised HKD 2,180,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The irregular-shaped horn is finely carved and pierced to the exterior with the 'Three Friends of Winter' motif with gnarled pine tree branches forming the base, and handles in the form of bamboo stalk issuing leaves and branches bearing prunus blossoms. The interior is further carved in high relief with a curious chilong clambering from the rim towards the centre. The material is of a rich reddish-brown tone, stand.

Provenance: Sold at Sotheby's London, 20 February 1968, lot 29
Edward T. Chow Collection
Sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7 October 2006, lot 915

Exhibited: Asian Civilization Museum, Singapore, 2003-2004  

Note: The Three Friends of Winter, pine, prunus and bamboo, flourish even under adverse conditions and are a common subject in Chinese painting, calligraphy and works of art. Together they are symbolic of longevity, perseverance and the virtues of the scholar-gentleman.

Rhinoceros horns carved with this motif include an inscribed libation cup decorated with a continuous landscape and dated to the 17th century, in the Songzhutang Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 May 2008, lot 1707. Another example is a libation cup dated to circa 1700, formerly in the Nils Nessim and Dr. Ip Yee Collections, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19 November 1984. See also an example carved with similar motif but of different shape, in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, and illustrated by Jan Chapman in The Art of Rhinoceroes Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 197.

From the Songzhutang Collection. A finely carved rhinoceros horn 'Three friends' libation cup, Ming dynasty, 17th century; 5¾ in. (14.5 cm) across. Weight: 10.7 oz. (305 gm). Sold for HK$1,207,500 ($155,464) at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 May 2008, lot 1707. © Christie's Images Ltd 2008

Cf. my post: A finely carved rhinoceros horn 'Three friends' libation cup, Ming dynasty, 17th century

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28 November 2012, Hong Kong