A Fine Inlaid Jade Sceptre. Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period

the slender elegantly curved and slightly tapered shaft of rounded rectangular section, the head and terminal section carved as a ruyi- head, the middle section of foliate shape, each delicately applied with various hardstones including spinach jade, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and glass forming individual garden scenes with a peach tree and a crane, a pine and a bat, bamboo and a flower pot on rockwork, the jade of a mottled pale celadon colour, the end pierced and with a silk tassel suspended from an endless knot. 27cm., 10 5/8 in. Lot Sold 10,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: From a European noble family acquired in China in 1900 and hence in the family by descent

CATALOGUE NOTE: The sceptre itself, and the carved motifs on this particular ruyi sceptre are rich in symbolism. The ruyi sceptre is a talisman presented to bestow good fortune. The origins of the sceptre are connected with Buddhism and is thought to have developed from back-scratchers used by monks and holy figures. Later it was adapted by Daoists who introduced the heart-shaped head rendered as a lingzhi (longevity fungus). The original function of the sceptre was lost by then and since the object had no practical purpose it could take any form deemed suitable to express well wishing. It was during Yongzheng's reign that the auspicious tradition of the ruyi (literally 'as you wish') was revived. He commissioned the making of sceptres in various materials and even had his portrait painted depicting him holding a wooden sceptre. This portrait, titled The Yongzheng Emperor Admiring Flowers, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and was included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2006, cat.no. 272. Sceptres became an imperial object and were presented to the Emperor or members of the Imperial family and high officials as auspicious gifts on occasions such as birthdays and promotions.

The present sceptre, inlaid with vibrant precious stones, conveys many auspicious meanings. The peaches are a reference to longevity and immortality, the pine (song) and rock (shoushi) together symbolize longevity while the fungus (lingzhi) is a pun for the word 'age' (ling). The message conveyed here is 'may the aged pine honour you with longevity (songling gongshou)'.

This sceptre is closely comparable with a white jade sceptre decorated with similar design components such as peaches, bats and lingzhi fungus in various precious stones, in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Ju-I Scepters in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1974, pl. 6; and another, finely inlaid with tourmaline, jadeite, lapis lazuli, malachite and nephrite with the design of flowers growing from rockwork, bats, birds and peaches sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 26^th April 2004, lot 1227. 

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 05 Nov 08. London. Photo courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com