A CINNABAR LACQUER RUYI SCEPTRE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

finely carved on the ruyi-shaped terminal with a caparisoned elephant standing foursquare turning its head sharply to the right, supporting an archaistic vase on its back containing a branch of coral and a ruyi sceptre, with two foreign mahouts holding a long feathery leaf and an elephant goad respectively, the arched shaft carved with a bat grasping a beribboned stone chime on the lobed rectangular central section and twin fish on the bottom panel, all against a floral diaper ground, further divided along the shaft by angular archaistic scrollwork against a key-fret ground, the side edges decorated with key-fret and the reverse incised overall with leiwen

The ruyi is in overall very good condition. There is some light retouching in areas along the edges and the lacquer is likely to have been secured at the joint between the terminal and the shaft. There is a 1 x 0.2 cm loss to the lacquer on the edge of the bottom terminal on the reverse.
"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 sceptres in China are thought to originate from back scratchers used by Buddhist monks and holy figures during pre-Tang times, which were later adopted by Daoists who introduced the heart-shaped head in the form of a lingzhi, before being revived during the Yongzheng reign as an imperial object. While its original practical function was lost, the tradition of the ruyi (literally 'as you wish') was emphasised through the decoration which often consisted of auspicious motifs, such as the elephant, bats and twin fish as seen on the present sceptre. Compare sceptres of this form, such as two sold in our New York rooms, 30th March 2006, lot 82, depicting bats amongst flowers on the head, and lot 106, carved with a scholar and two acolytes in a landscape.

This sceptre is particularly unusual for the depiction of two foreign figures bringing tribute to the Chinese court. Foreigners were rarely incorporated into the decorative repertoire of lacquerware and only a small number of examples are known, such as a box in the form of conjoined circles illustrating a foreigner on horseback, with a Qianlong reign mark, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the exhibition Emperor Ch'ien-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2002, cat. no. I-45; and a pair of circular boxes carved with scenes of foreigners and elephants, sold at Christie's New York, 19th March 2009, lot 591.