A BAMBOO VENEER ‘BAJIXIANG’ RUYI SCEPTER, ZHUHUANG, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY
The scepter finely carved in high relief with the Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang), the ruyi head showing the pair of fish, vase, and parasol amidst blossoming lotus flowers within a scroll-design border, the rectangular central section with the conch shell, endless knot, and the victory banner, and the terminal with the wheel of dharma. The handle is neatly incised with auspicious fruit in form of branches with finger citrons and pomegranates.


Provenance:
French trade. By repute acquired from a deceased estate in Bourgogne.

Condition:
Very good condition with expected old wear, traces of usage, natural age cracks and few tiny nibbles to edges. Some discoloration and staining as often found on these early bamboo veneer scepters. Sublime, naturally grown patina overall, with a decent luster and an unctuous feel, beautiful golden amber color.

Weight: 147.4 g
Dimensions: Length 42 cm


This scepter is impressive for its fine workmanship
as revealed by the precise carving on the head and shaft. While ruyi scepters were made in large numbers during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, as attested in the Guo Chao Gong Shi, which records that the Qianlong Emperor’s mother received one hundred and eight ruyi scepters for her sixtieth birthday, those made of bamboo veneer are relatively rare. Known as Zhuhuang or veneer bamboo, this technique involves the separation of the veneer, which is of pale amber-yellow coloration and taken from the inner wall of the bamboo stem. The veneer is then applied over a wood core and is carved in shallow relief. As the color of the bamboo skin is lighter than wood, the design is left in reserve against the darker background, resulting in an elegant and attractive finish.


Literature comparison:

A similar scepter, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, was included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors 1662-1795, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2005, cat. no. 368; another was included in the Min Chiu Society exhibition Auspicious Emblems. Chinese Cultural Treasures, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 2005, cat. no. 173; a third is published in Series of Exceptional Carvings. Selected Ming & Qing Bamboo Carvings, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2005, p. 153; and a further scepter, from the Water, Pine, and Stone Retreat collection, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong exhibition Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 121.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 24 March 2011, lot 1440
Price: USD 21,250 or approx.
EUR

27,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare bamboo veneer ruyi scepter, 18th century
Expert remark: Note the smaller size (35 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 10 December 2014, lot 139
Price: EUR 12,500 or approx.
EUR 15,000
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare bamboo-veneer ruyi scepter, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Note the similar size (40 cm).




十八世紀八寳紋竹簧如意

以竹為胎，利用竹簧紋理的深淺包鑲淺刻出八寶、佛手、石榴等吉祥經典裝飾紋樣。造型優美典雅，包鑲雕刻精密，紋飾佈局勻稱。


來源：
法國古玩交易，據説購於勃艮第一遺產。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損、使用痕跡、自然老化裂紋，邊緣有一些微小磕損，有一些變色和汙漬。整體自然包漿，光澤細膩，有著美麗的金琥珀色。

重量：147.4 克
尺寸：長 42 釐米


竹簧的創造
，至乾隆中期在江西地區竹簧工藝達到高峰，並被宮廷禦作坊採用，此後一直在清廷中流行到 十九世紀。其製作工藝相當複雜，將竹子留下薄層的竹簧，經過煮、曬、壓平後，膠合在木胎上，然後磨光，再在上面刻飾各種圖案。


文獻比較：

一件類似的如意，來自北京故宮博物院，展於《The Three Emperors 1662-1795》，維多利亞和亞伯特博物館，倫敦，2005年，圖錄編號368。另一件則收錄Min Chiu Society，展覽於《Auspicious Emblems. Chinese Cultural Treasures》，香港藝術博物館，香港，2005年，編號173。第三件如意，見《Series of Exceptional Carvings. Selected Ming & Qing Bamboo Carvings》，國立歷史博物館，台北，2005年，頁153。另一件如意，出自《Water，Pine，and Stone Retreat collection》藏品，收錄於香港東方陶瓷學會展覽《Scholar’s Studio》，馮平山博物館，香港，1986年，編號121。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年3月24日，lot 1440
價格：USD 21,250（相當於今日
EUR

27,000
）
描述：十八世紀竹簧如意
專家評論：請注意尺寸較小(35 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：巴黎佳士得，2014年12月10日，lot 139
價格：EUR 12,500（相當於今日
EUR 15,000
）
描述：十八世紀竹簧如意
專家評論：請注意相似的尺寸(40 厘米)。