
Juliette Hammer
Sale Coordinator
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£12,000 - £15,000
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Specialist, Chinese Works of Art

Head of Chinese and Asian Art, London
清乾隆 紫檀嵌玉三鑲如意
The presentation of such a sceptre would have symbolised the granting of good fortune, as embodied in the meaning of its Chinese name ruyi 如意—'as you wish.' Zitan's deep purplish-black hue was associated with the Imperial Court, as purple 紫 (zi) has long been a colour linked to royalty, divinity, and high status. Zitan products were reserved for emperors and high-ranking officials, symbolising their elevated position in society. The present lot elegantly combines two highly prized materials, jade and zitan, to create a piece of exceptional auspiciousness. See a related carved zitan sceptre inset with a jade plaque, Qing dynasty, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Refined Pleasures in the Study: Treasures and Curios from Traditional Study, Taipei, 2007, p.83.
See a related jade inset zitan sceptre, Qianlong period, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 6 April 2015, lot 254.