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53

Jade Ruyi Scepter with Mythological Relief, 19th C.

Currency:EUR Category:Collectibles Start Price:6,000.00 EUR Estimated At:9,600.00 - 12,000.00 EUR
Jade Ruyi Scepter with Mythological Relief, 19th C.
White-gray jade, partly with brownish veining
China, 19th century
Large ruyi scepter in classical form
Three relief reserves on the shaft and the head
Mythological scenes with the Eight Immortals and Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West
Literature: see catalog entry
Length: 43.5 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private collection, Bilbao

Scepters of this kind were ritual objects and symbols of power and good fortune. Mostly of noble materials such as jade, ruyis were presented as a token of appreciation or as an auspicious gift on occasion of an imperial birthday or New Year.

The present scepter is carved from one piece and shows the exquisite carving of the Qing Dynasty. The relationship between material and motif – the jade as a symbol of immortality and the image of the Eight Immortals – emphasizes the symbolic value of the piece. Xiwangmu riding on a phoenix and approaching Shoulao standing on a terrace is a popular motif on ruyi scepters. The depiction of the Eight Immortals suggests that the image shows a celebration in honor of the Queen Mother of the West for which the immortals are gathering. Compare jade ruyis in the collection of the Beijing Palace Museum and the National Palace Museum Taipei, Taiwan. (Literature: Gu Gong Bo Wu Yuan & Xu Xiaodong, Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 8, Beijing 2011, pl.74; Kuo Li Kung Po Wu Yuan, Masterpieces of Chinese Ju-i Scepters in the National Palace Museum, Taipei 1976, pl.2) Cf. a ruyi scepters with the motif of the Eight Immortals formerly in the private rooms of Emperor Qianlong, now in the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico ‘Luigi Pigorin’, Rome (accession no. MPE 143440).



Condition: The scepter is in good condition with minor signs of wear. The length is 43.5 cm.
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