Page 93 - Fine Chinese Ceramics Sept 2016

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A RARE YELLOW JADE RUYI SCEPTER
19TH CENTURY
The quatrefoil head is well carved in relief with a pair of descending archaistic
birds that are confronted at the bottom to form a taotie mask. The handle is carved
with two areas of archaistic scrolls, one section between openwork scroll borders,
and the oblong center with a chilong. There are some areas of brown color.
15¡ in. (39 cm.) long, box
$100,000-150,000
During the Qing dynasty, some of the fnest jade carvings found their inspiration
in archaic jades collected and treasured by the Emperors. The present ruyi
scepter conveys archaistic style in both motif and form. The carving on the ruyi
head resembles the taotie mask seen on archaic bronzes. The mid-section is
reminiscent of the Han dynasty jade scabbard slide. And the handle is in the
form of an archaic jade gui scepter. A very similar yellow jade ruyi scepter is in
the National Palace Museum collection, illustrated in Auspicious Ju-I Scepters of
China, Taipei, 1995, p. 93, pl. 20 and pp. 222-23.
清十九世紀 黃玉螭龍紋如意

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