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The present elephant-head ruyi sceptre is 此象首如意，錯飾精緻，加嵌寶石，尤為珍罕。
unusual for its elegant shape, intricate inlays and 背銘「德粹乾清，昭昭成象」，可悉或與乾清宮
inscription, which suggests a link to the Palace 相關，乾隆皇帝〈御製乾清宮銘〉曰：「大哉至
of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City. An 健，純粹而精，昭昭成象，蕩蕩難名。四德嬗
imperial poem about the Palace by the Qianlong 用，六位時乘，靜專動直，資始大生我。」詳見
Emperor starts with phrases similar to the
《欽定四庫全書．國朝宮史》，卷12，頁6。
present inscription, praising various virtues and
their brightness; see Guochao gongshi [Court
相類之鎏金銅象首如意，可參考普孟斐舊藏例，
History], juan 12, p. 6.
稍長於此，卻無嵌飾、銘刻字樣，定為十七至十
See a slightly longer gilt-bronze elephant- 八世紀之物，於紐約佳士得2012年3月22日拍
head sceptre from the collection of Robert H. 出，編號1232。
Blumenfield, but without inlays, dated to the 17th
to 18th century and sold at Christie’s New York,
22nd March 2012, lot 1232.
GEMS OF CHINESE ART — THE SPEELMAN COLLECTION I 91
