Three vases in archaic bronze forms carved on a stepped stand: in the centre, an incense burner, with upright handles and three animal-style feet, carved with a taotie, the domed cover with an oval button knob; to one side, a two-handled vase, also with t

Jade in the Royal Collection

Vibrant jades collected from around the world

    CHINA

    Ruyi sceptre

    eighteenth century

    RCIN 23692

    The ruyi sceptre was allegedly used as a backscratcher in early Buddhist times. It was later adapted by the Daoists as a good luck charm due to its resemblance to the sacred lingzhi fungus. The Qing imperial court (from which this examples dates) used them to denote the imperial status of the ruler and favoured the use of ruyi sceptres as gifts. This was possibly one of a number of ruyi originally presented to members of Lord Macartney's Embassy of 1792-4 by the Qianlong Emperor.

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