Lot 1708
  • 1708

A BOXWOOD IMPERIAL 'LINGZHI' RUYI SCEPTRE MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

Estimate
5,000,000 - 7,000,000 HKD
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Description

naturalistically carved from a single branch, the head with one large lingzhi and several attendant shoots, the stalk with burls and knots partially hollow on the back, inscribed on the stalk with a four-character reign mark, the smooth patina of warm ochre tone, together with an ink painting on paper by the Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat, with two seals of the artist

Exhibited

Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 7.

Literature

Jean de Loisy and Alain Thuleau, La Beauté, Flammarion, 2000, p. 238.

Condition

There is an old repair to a clean break approximately 10cm from the top of the ruyi.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The present sceptre is a masterpiece of naturalism much favoured by the Yongzheng emperor for its simple and 'raw' appearance. During Yongzheng's reign, decoration on artefacts is generally characterized as elegantly simple and restrained. Sceptres of this seemingly unaffected form would have been made for his personal use. Technically, the sceptre is impeccable and is finished to appear as if just found in the woods. However, on close glance it is evident that the carver has skilfully applied his talent to its making and had used the long gnarled stalk creating a piece of art.

The four-character reign mark, written in elegant regular script, is typical of that found on Imperial wares made in the palace workshop, while the natural wear and patination of the object further confirms the present sceptre's authenticity. The piece is the product of the wood carving workshop, originally set up by Yongzheng's father, the Kangxi emperor, within the Forbidden City in Beijing. According to Moss and Tsang, ibid., p. 42, 'the art of  moulding gourds set up within the palace by the Kangxi emperor also required the production of finely carved primary wood moulds, while some of the stands made for pieces in the imperial collection are of the highest quality and works of art in their own right. The skills certainly existed within the palace workshops to produce a ruyi such as this'.

For examples of natural wood sceptres see two illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Ju-I Sceptres in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1974, pls. 22-23, both made of birch. See also a court painting titled A Life Portrait of Emperor Yongzheng Watching Flowers, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Paintings by the Court Artists of the Qing Court, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 19, where the emperor is depicted holding a ruyi sceptre of closely related naturalistic form. 

The number and opulence of ruyi sceptres increased during the reign of Yongzheng's son, the Qianlong emperor. It was Qianlong who officially ordered the court to present sceptres at imperial birthdays and New Year celebrations. Sceptres were made in all mediums with their design left to the artists' imagination. See ten sceptres included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2006, cat. nos. 273-282, which represent the variety of imperial sceptres from the Qing Court collection and presently in the Palace Museum, Beijing.