Ruyi sceptre

China, 18th century, Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)

Wooden centre, carved into layers of lacquer coloured red with cinnabar. The head is carved with Zhongli Quan holding a fan (from the Eight Immortals).

L: 36 cm

O 226

Purchased from H. Sänger of Hamburg in 1911.

The shape of the head on this decorative ruyi sceptre (an object symbolising good fortune; ruyi can be translated as “as you wish”) resembles the mushroom of immortality (lingzhi).