A fine and rare imperial apple-green jadeite embellished silver-gilt ruyi Qing Dynasty, 19th century

comprising of three jadeite plaques of mottled apple-green tone, the head carved in low relief with a shou medallion encircled by bats, deer and fruiting sanduo 'Three Abundances' sprays of pomegranate, peach and the finger citron, the middle section of the shaft carved with a long tailed phoenix and peonies, the terminal plaque decorated with an elephant, all set in a silver-gilt filagree frame embellished with turquoise enamels imitating kingfisher feathers, depicting the Daoist emblems along the shaft, stand and mother-of-pearl embellished display box

Reputedly from the Imperial Collection at the Summer Palace, Beijing.
The Mrs. Elizabeth W. Coles Collection, New York, 1917.
The Francis Ralston Welsh Collection, Pennsylvania.
The Mrs. Georg Vetlesen Collection.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1892-1917. 

Maude Monell Vetlesen, and Stanley Charles Nott, Chinese Jade Carvings of the XVIth to the XIXth Century, In the Collection of Mrs. Georg Vetlesen, vol. 2,  London, 1939.

The tassle has come off, the terminal jade piece with the elephant has been set invertedly, however, the overall condition is very good.
"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."

Ruyi means 'as you wish' and the so-called ruyi 'scepters' are not scepters of authority, but charms presented as gifts to bestow good fortune.  In the Qing Dynasty, these sceptres became extremely popular as gifts to and from the emperor.  They followed traditional shapes with either ruyi head or lingzhi fungus at the top. 

Compare a very similar ruyi sceptre with jade inlays on the medallions and a filagree setting, illustrated in the National Palace Museum, Auspicious Ju-i Scepters of China,Taipei, 1995, cat.no. 58.