An exceptional imperial inscribed white jade ruyi sceptre Mark and period of Qianlong, dated to the renchen year, corresponding to 1772 | 清乾隆 御製白玉趕珠雲龍紋題詩如意 《乾隆壬辰新春御題》款 「比德」、「朗潤」印

Property from the De An Tang Collection

An exceptional imperial inscribed white jade ruyi sceptre

Mark and period of Qianlong, dated to the renchen year, corresponding to 1772

德安堂藏玉

清乾隆 御製白玉趕珠雲龍紋題詩如意 《乾隆壬辰新春御題》款

「比德」、「朗潤」印

magnificently carved, the large ruyi-shaped terminal carved in low relief with a flaming pearl borne on a lingzhi-shaped wisp of cloud issuing from froth-capped waves, flanked by similar scrolling clouds, the reverse incised with a forty-eight character imperial inscription with two square seals reading bide ('measure of virtue') and langrun ('clear and unctuous') highlighted in red pigment, the arched shaft carved in high relief with a slender scaly five-clawed dragon clambering around it amidst vaporous clouds upwards in pursuit of the flaming pearl, the lower pointed tip with turbulent crested waves, the stone of an even pale celadon tone with a slight yellow-tinted streak at the bottom of the shaft, original ebony stand

39.7 cm