A JADE-INSET CARVED ZITAN RUYI SCEPTER

Ruyi scepters were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly to be given as gifts on auspicious occasions such as birthdays. They were made in a wide variety of materials and were often decorated, as seen on the present piece, with auspicious emblems. The immortals and the deer on the jade plaques relay a wish for long life, while the five bats (wufu) carved on the scepter represent the Five Blessings (long life, riches, health, love of virtue, and a natural death).