Page 200 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art Nov 2013 London

The Property of a Gentleman 紳士藏品

183 *
A very rare famille rose ‘Buddhist Lions’
ruyi sceptre
Daoguang The ruyi sceptre, meaning 如以 ‘as you wish’, expresses the desire
The highly unusual sceptre modelled with a pronounced curve to that that someone’s wishes come true; as such, a ruyi sceptre was
the shaft, the head and shaft enamelled pale blue and applied with considered a most suitable gift for an honoured friend or high ranking
eight Buddhist lions and cubs playing amidst long intricately-twisting official, particularly on the occasion of a birthday.
iron-red and gilt ribbons, the lions variously crouching or clambering Ruyi sceptres were made in the widest range of materials, from jade
up the sceptre with one cub resting on the back of another and all and hardwoods, to gilt and precious stones and organic materials
with features carefully painted in iron-red, pink, purple, pale blue, pale such as lacquer, ivory and bamboo. It is particularly rare, however,
yellow and gilt. to find a ruyi sceptre made of porcelain, perhaps due to its natural
30cm (11¾in) long fragility making it a less suitable material for such a long, slender
£30,000 - 40,000 shape. The present lot is also highly unusual for its amusing design,
HK$370,000 - 500,000 CNY290,000 - 390,000 with highly detailed and playful Buddhist lions, carefully moulded and
enamelled, all increasing the level of complexity for the craftsmen and
清道光 粉彩凸雕八獅戲球紋如意 the rarity of such a piece surviving.

Provenance: a Swiss private collection Compare another porcelain ruyi sceptre, but of more conventional
來源：瑞士私人收藏 design, sold at Christie’s London, 14 May 2013, lot 278; and another
inscribed with a Daoguang seal mark and of the period sold at
Christie’s New York, 15-16 September 2011, lot 1633.

198 | Bonhams