448.
A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL SOAPSTONE-INSET RUYI SCEPTRE
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
35,5 x 9,5 cm
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 5279.
The term ruyi literally means “as you wish”. A large quantity of this kind of ornamental object was created during the eighteenth century. Any type of material was used, from jade to hardwood, lacquer and different kinds of metal. Cloisonné ruyi sceptres could be also embellished with hardstone and soapstone plaques such as in this piece, even if the most common are casted and gilt bronze insets (B. Quette (edited by), Cloisonné. Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, exhibition catalogue, New York 2011, p. 293, nn. 133-134).
Bats (fu), peaches (taozi) and pomegranates (shiliu), which appear as decoration on the three soapstone insets of this ruyi sceptre, are popular motifs in Chinese art, respectively symbolizing wish for good fortune, longevity and fecundity.
