QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-1796)
LENGTH: 37.2CM
The ruyi head and handle are made from two assembled ivory sections. The stem is gently curved and carved in shallow relief with an archaistic bronze motif on one side, while the ruyi head is decorated with a taotie mask. The reverse is left undecorated. The sceptre is pierced at the bottom and embellished with an original deep red-coloured silk tassel. The overall surface is stained to a pale apple green colour with minor natural age cracks.
SIMILAR EXAMPLE
A stained ivory parfumier in similar archaistic style is published in Zhongguo
zhumu yajiao qi quanji 中國竹木牙角器全集4: 牙角器 (The Complete Collection
of Chinese Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carving Volume 4: Ivory
and Rhinoceros Horn), 2009, p. 92, Catalogue No. 69.
清乾隆 茜色象牙雕仿古饕餮紋如意