Lot 43
  • 43

A RARE INSCRIBED PARCEL-GILT BRONZE 'LINGZHI' RUYI SCEPTRE QING DYNASTY, DAOGUANG PERIOD, DATED BY INSCRIPTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1845

Estimate
300,000 - 400,000 HKD
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Description

  • Bronze
  • 34.8cm
the ruyi sceptre skilfully cast in the form of a gnarled and knotted branch of lingzhi with a large lingzhi bloom forming the head, the shaft rendered issuing attendant thin twigs bearing small lingzhi blooms, the lower terminal further entwined with a long gnarled leafy spray of peaches, the large lingzhi-shaped head further decorated with a gilt bat with outstretched wings, the reverse of the shaft incised with an inscription in seal script dated to the fifteenth day of the third month of the twenty-fifth year of the Daoguang reign (in accordance with 1845) and can be translated to 'respectfully offered to the Jinlun Wanghua Tianzun by Yang Yuangao and respectfully incised by Zhang Xin', the patina of a warm honey-copper colour

Provenance

Hugh Moss, London.

Condition

The sceptre is in overall good condition. There are typical minute bruises and losses to the extremities, the most notable a shallow break to the edge of one small lingzhi on the side. There are also areas of rubbing to the gilding and typical original casting flaws.
"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

This extraordinary sceptre, which encapsulates the literati approach to scholarly works of art in the Daoguang period, is of outstanding quality, skilfully cast with naturalistic attention to detail in the form of a long branch of lingzhi with additional smaller blooms on long winding stems that curl skilfully around the branch.

According to the Encyclopaedia Sinica, the 13th century writer Zhao Xigu believed that ruyi sceptres were originally made of iron and used to point the way and for self defence, but by the Qing dynasty, they became associated with Daoist longevity symbolism. It is relatively common to find a ruyi sceptre in jade, cloisonné enamel, and various organic materials, but it is extremely rare to find an example in bronze.

For a bamboo veneer ruyi sceptre of closely related form from the Qianlong era, similarly conceived in the form of a branch of lingzhi with smaller blooms growing from it, see the Qianlong reign-marked sceptre included in the exhibition Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, Cat. no. 121, and sold in these rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1728, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection.

The current ruyi sceptre was created and signed by Zhang Xin (1811-1848), a native of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, renowned for his expertise in incising calligraphy into metal and stone. He was the nephew of Zhang Tingji (1768-1848), a famous artist and collector who was active in the same circles as Ruan Yuan, Weng Fanggang, Huang Yi and Zhu Deyi, and named his collection the Qingyige. A rare inscribed Shang dynasty ritual gu vessel originally in his collection, the Xing Zuo Fu Ding Gu, illustrated in Zhang Tingji, Qingyige suocang guqiwu wen, (Writings on Ancient Objects in the Qingyige Collection), 1848, vol. 1, p. 12, was sold in our New York rooms, 18th March 2014, lot 6.