A well-carved white jade ruyi scepter, Qianlong-Jiaqing period, 1736-1820. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2013

The ruyi head is carved in low relief with the character fu (fortune) surrounded by fruiting and flowering double-gourd vine repeated above a ribbon-tied wan emblem in a panel on the top of the arched handle, which is pierced through the faceted tip for a silk cord. The well-polished stone is of even, very pale greenish-white color. 15 3/8 in. (39 cm.) long. Estimate $200,000 - $300,000

清乾隆/嘉慶 白玉雕 福壽萬代如意 

Provenance: Lizzadro Collection, Chicago, Illinois, acquired prior to 1960.

Note: Ruyi means 'as one desires,' and is associated with expressions such as jixiang ruyi, 'may all your good fortunes be fulfilled.' These ruyi scepters were known to have been commissioned by Qing emperors either to commemorate birthdays or to be bestowed as birthday gifts.
The double-gourd is an important symbol in Chinese art and culture as it represents several auspicious meanings. With its numerous seeds, the double gourd is a symbol of fertility, particularly for male children, as seed shares the same pronunciation as 'son.' The word for gourd (hulu) is also a pun for 'good fortune' (fu) and 'emolument' (lu) combined. The plant is shown on the present scepter with its network of vines and tendrils bearing numerous gourds, suggesting continuity and providing a pun for 'ten thousand generations' (wandai), and therefore conveying the auspicious wish of 'may good fortune and emolument persist for ten thousand generations' (fulu wandai), and 'may you have ten thousand generations of sons and grandsons' (zisun wandai).

Christie's. A Collecting Legacy: Fine Chinese Jade Carvings and Works of Art from the Lizzadro Collection. 21 March 2013. New York, Rockefeller Plaza.