QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
LENGTH: 43.8CM
The ruyi is carved from a single piece of boxwood with a long curved and
tapered handle and decorated on one side in low relief with a pair of cranes
with one crane clutching a lingzhi sprig below a pine tree and scrolling clouds,
all above a keyfret border on the end of the handle. The stylised lingzhi-shaped
head is decorated with a circular ‘shou ’ character below a ‘wan ’ 卍symbol
flanked by three scrolling lotuses on either side, all below a single bat at the top
of the ruyi. The boxwood is smooth and well patinated to a deep brownish
orange colour.
The many symbols on the ruyi depict a well-wishing of longevity. The pine
(song ) and crane (he ) in one motif form the rebus songhe changchun 松鶴長春
which translates to ‘may you enjoy a life as long as a pine and crane.’ The lingzhi
fungus is traditionally a symbol for longevity and the ‘shou ’ and ‘wan ’ characters
can be interpreted as the rebus wanshou wujiang 萬壽無疆meaning ‘wishing
you long life without boundaries.
PROVENANCE
Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection 水松石山房
清十八世紀 黃楊木圓雕萬字紋“松鶴長春”如意
