登录
China. Exquisitely crafted, the gently curved shaft extends from a lobed terminal through a rectangular mid-section to a ruyi-shaped head. Each of the three sections is mounted with a shaped gilt-bronze panel, two enclosing auspicious shou characters, all finely embellished with bats amid swirling clouds. The shaft is richly decorated in vivid polychrome cloisonné enamels against a turquoise-blue ground with the Eight Buddhist Emblems (Bajixiang), further shou characters, and blossoming lotus borne on scrolling foliage. A suspension loop at the terminal is fitted with a faded yellow and ochre silk double tassel.
Provenance: Collection of Colonel Robert Humbert, OBE, United Kingdom. Collection of Sir Harold A. Wernher, Luton Hoo, Berdfordshire, United Kingdom, acquired from the above and thence by descent. Collection of Howard and Jackie Rendall, United Kingdom, acquired from the above and thence by descent. Major-General Sir Harold Augustus Wernher (1893-1973) was a British Army officer, industrialist, and collector. The second son of Sir Julius Wernher and Alice Sedgwick Mankiewicz, he belonged to the prominent Wernher family, whose wealth originated in the South African diamond mining industry. During the Second World War, he attained the rank of Major-General and, in September 1943, received appointment from Prime Minister Winston Churchill as Co-ordinator of Ministry and Service Facilities. In this capacity, he played a significant role in coordinating the logistical preparations for Operation Overlord. An important art collection passed to him following the death of Sir Julius Wernher, and he continued the tradition of collecting and patronage established within the Wernher family. Howard Rendall has maintained a deep interest in Chinese culture since early childhood. This interest originated when his mother regularly read to him his favorite childhood book, recounting the adventures of Rupert Bear in China. The family home contained fine-quality furniture and a carefully assembled collection of Asian decorative arts selected by his father, providing an early introduction to the artistic traditions of East Asia. In 1973, Howard fulfilled a longstanding ambition by working in Japan, an experience that offered a valuable insight into the culture and aesthetic traditions of the region. Further journeys throughout Asia followed together with his wife, Jackie, who shared an enduring interest in the traditional arts of the Far East. In 2002, the couple spent a month travelling through China, navigating the Yangtze River and visiting major cities and museums, including Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Xi'an. Following retirement, Howard and Jackie continued to deepen their knowledge and to expand the collection well beyond the works inherited from Howard's father, Kenneth James Rendall. The Chinese cloisonné objects in the collection, including the present lot, were acquired primarily as a result of the particular interest that Jackie developed in the intricate designs and outstanding craftsmanship characteristic of this artistic tradition.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear, firing irregularities including pitting, a tiny chip to the tip of the ruyi-head, and the medallions possibly reattached.
Weight: 945.3 g
Dimensions: Length 44.8 cm
Originally an attribute of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, the ruyi scepter became an auspicious symbol of good fortune and the fulfilment of wishes in China, particularly during the Qing dynasty. As such, it was frequently presented as a prestigious gift on the occasion of birthdays. From its early appearance during the seventeenth century, the ruyi scepter evolved into an increasingly elaborate object, and by the Qianlong period examples executed in a wide range of media had become important demonstrations of technical virtuosity.
Parallel to the development of the ruyi form, characterized by its gently curved shaft and distinctive cloud-shaped head, cloisonné enamel reached an exceptional level of refinement during the eighteenth century. No expense was spared in the production of these wares, especially in the application of gilding. Contemporary archival records indicate that a double layer of gilding was often employed, imparting to Qianlong-period cloisonné its distinctive richness, brilliance, and luminosity.
The symbolism of the present ruyi scepter is highly auspicious and suggests that it may have been conceived as a presentation gift on the occasion of a birthday. The five bats (wufu) allude to the Five Blessings, namely longevity, wealth, health, the love of virtue, and a peaceful death and, in combination with the Shou characters, form the rebus ‘wufu qingshou’, conveying wishes for longevity. This iconographic program is further reinforced by the representation of the Eight Buddhist Emblems (Bajixiang) on the shaft of the scepter. Traditionally understood as the auspicious offerings presented to the Buddha by the gods upon his Enlightenment, these emblems conveyed blessings of prosperity, longevity, and spiritual as well as temporal wellbeing.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related cloisonné enamel ruyi scepter, dated Qianlong period, 40 cm long, in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, accession number 1909-37, and illustrated in Béatrice Quette (ed.), Cloisonné. Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, 2011, p. 293, no. 135. Compare a closely related gilt-bronze and cloisonné ‘ruyi’ scepter, dated Qianlong period, 35 cm long, illustrated in Zhang Xin (ed.), Colorful, Elegant and Exquisite. A Special Exhibition of Imperial Enamel Ware from Mr. Robert Chang's Collection, Suzhou, 2008, p. 80-81.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 10 November 2011, lot 489
Price: GBP 229,250 approx. EUR 408,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A very fine cloisonné enamel and gilt-bronze ‘five-dragon’ ruyi, Qianlong
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and refined craftmanship. Note the size (42 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1559
Price: HKD 780,000 approx. EUR 143,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A cloisonné enamel and gilt bronze ruyi sceptre
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and refined craftmanship. Note the size (39.7 cm).
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