The ruyi sceptre with undulating shaft and turned-over head. The shaft carved in relief with a lingzhi spray, and the head with a bat; the bottom pierced for attaching the yellow silk tassel, with a spray of lily, the bloom hollowed to hold a gemstone, and a fruit spray.

The ruyi sceptre with head in the form of the sacred lingzhi fungus was a time-honoured symbol of authority; for examples made in other materials in the Collection- see in carved red lacquer (RCIN 10805) and cloisonné enamel (RCIN 11701).

Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume III.