72 | Ruyi sceptre in carved ivory Qianlong period, 1736 – 1795 Length: 39 cm | 15 3/8 in Click image for full-size version Ruyi means ‘whatever you wish’ and sceptres of this form (based upon the lingzhi fungus) were created in diverse materials – although rarely in ivory. They were traditionally given as auspicious gifts because of the lingzhi’s Daoist longevity symbolism. Partly carved in openwork, creating a filigree effect, the green stained shaft is decorated with carved lingzhi painted brown, amongst narcissus and nandina flowers. These are entwined with alternating bunches of millet, fruiting peach branches and green stained leaves that rise up the trunk to the ruyi head; this is a separately carved section – similarly decorated (with a combination of all the design elements) in filigree work. The original silk cord – knotted in the middle, and terminating in two tasselled balls – is thread through an opening at the base of the sceptre. Similar example: Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing, The Oriental Ceramic Society and The British Museum, 1984 – figure 160 (colour plate 5) illustrates an 18th century ivory sceptre carved with foliage and gourds.