Page 54 - Marchant Ninety Jades For 90 Years

二 24. Ruyi-sceptre with archaic-style lingzhi head, carved in relief with two

十 confronting phoenix birds within a scroll-end border, the slender

四 curved shaft with a long recessed panel with branches of flowering

chrysanthemum issuing from pierced rockwork, the lobed terminal
雙 with a flowering aster and rockwork, the underside plain, the end
鳳 pierced with two holes for attachment, the jadeite stone of white
和
鳴 and very pale celadon with russet markings.
如 11 ⅞ inches, 30.2 cm long.
意 Jiaqing/Daoguang, first half of 19th century.

翡 • From the collection of Dr John A. Campbell, Akron,
翠 Ohio. A member of the Cleveland Art Museum, he

enjoyed a long friendship with Mr Ho and Sherman

嘉 Lee. He taught an adult-education class on Japanese and
慶 Chinese art at Akron University and was on the Advisory

/ Board of the College of Fine and Professional Arts at Kent
道 State University.

光 • Jadeite sceptres are rare. Two imperial nephrite examples,

with Qianlong poems dated 1774 and 1789, with the same

John A. Campbell shaped ruyi-head with two scrolls, are illustrated by Chen

Xia Sheng in Auspicious Ju-i Scepters of China, National

Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, nos. 13 & 14, pp. 86/7.

• The ruyi-sceptre, with its fungus-shaped head and curved

stem, is believed to be inspired by the lingzhi fungus. The

先 ruyi is regarded as a symbol of power and authority and
生 was made in many decorative materials. Its literal meaning
舊 is, ‘As you wish’, and is related in structure to the diviner’s

藏 wand. The Emperor held it during rituals dedicated to the
god of agriculture. It was given by the Emperor as a gift to

high dignitaries as a mark of special distinction.

• A pair of phoenix birds for the rebus, shuangfeng heming,

‘May you have a harmonious marriage.’

• This piece is guaranteed jadeite jade by The Gem & Pearl

Laboratory, London, certificate no. 11549, 21st July 2015.

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