清乾隆 白玉「萬福慶壽」紋如意

the large ruyi-shaped terminal carved in low-relief with five bats around a stylised shou character, the arched shaft with a wan symbol above geometric motifs attached to a beribboned qing, the end carved with archaistic scrolls around circular bosses, pierced at the bottom edge for threading a tassel, the smoothly polished stone of an even white tone with traces of russet stains, with stand

尼泊爾爵士大君Padma Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana殿下收藏，1945年得自蔣介石（1887-1975）

The ruyi is in excellent condition with the exception of a 0.2cm nick to one lower edge of the shaft and another 0.3 x 0.2cm nick to the reverse edge of the terminal. The two sides of the ruyi terminal are mottled with milky-white inclusions; one side and the top of the terminal, and the middle of the shaft have patches of faint russet inclusions. The stone is of a more celadon tone compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

本品極具歷史價值，原為1945年國民黨領導蔣介石（1887－1975年）贈予尼泊爾爵士大君Padma Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana殿下（圖1）之登位賀禮。

如斯碩鉅之玉如意須由巨大原石雕琢而成，故珍稀如鳳毛麟角。本品玉石呈色凝白無瑕，以赤褐色料稍作點染，更具自然感。其紋飾圖案皆精工細琢，富吉祥寓意，盡顯本品超群之工藝水平。

如意的起源至今仍備受爭論，較廣為接受之學說指其造型乃由竹雕或骨雕爪杖演變而成。然而其吉祥意味及功能應源自古代象徵權位之朝笏，此說可鑒於房玄齡（579－648年）《晉書》所記載如意被用以指揮軍隊一事。宋代高承《事物紀原》稱，江蘇秣陵戰國時代陵墓有一白玉如意出土，上刻龍、虎、蟬紋，並藏於銅盒之中。此物仍有待考古學家考證，但若高承記載屬實，其即為中國最早出土的如意。關於如意之由來，詳見《故宮如意選萃》展覽圖錄袁德星一文，台北，1974年，頁86－90。唐宋年間，如意曾一度被用作佛道儀式法器。然宋代以降，儒教復興，佛教式微，如意遂成為道教器物，如意頭亦逐漸演變為象徵長壽的靈芝造型。同時，如意之製作愈加講究，造型、材質始呈五花八門。明代士大夫慣於互相送贈如意，而清朝皇帝更喜將如意賞賜忠臣賢士，甚至贈予外國元首及使節，譬如1793年乾隆皇帝便將一柄玉如意贈送英王喬治三世及首度來華之英國使節團。雍正、乾隆二帝皆有手持如意之肖像存世，乾隆對如意更是情有獨鍾，其眾多藏品部分錄於《盛世華章：康雍乾三世珍品》展覽圖錄，皇家藝術學院，倫敦，2006年，編號273－282。

本品頭部刻有五蝠及「壽」字，手柄刻有「卍」、磬紋，寓意「萬福慶壽」。末端三個淺浮雕圓飾，應代表司馬遷《天官書》所載掌管七星宿的三宮或牛郎星，反映星宿與皇帝天命之密切關係。關於古代中國對天體之圖像描繪方法，詳見曾藍瑩，《漢代對於天的構想和視覺轉化》，麻省劍橋，2011年，頁248－277。

存世如意作品雖無完全吻合者，惟仇炎之故藏一柄白玉如意尺寸與本品相約，如意頭刻有「壽」字圓章，環飾四件八吉祥紋，2008年4月11日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號2835；台北故宮博物院藏品，紋飾與本品相類，僅長38公分，較本品甚小，錄於上引《故宮如意選萃》展覽圖錄，編號4；德安堂藏一作例，長36公分，2004年展於北京紫禁城永壽宮，2007年5月29日售於香港佳士得，編號1598；鍋島氏藏另一作例2003年10月27日售於香港佳士得，編號829。