On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Ruyi

1740-1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

Bamboo ruyi sceptre, handle shaped as a branch of partly decayed wood with foliage and fruiting sprays of pomegranate, peach and Buddha's citron; a large insect on the pomegranate spray and a bat on the peach spray. The head is formed from a pair of Buddha's citrons with foliage and a single bat. Attached to the end of the handle is a long double tassel in blue, red and green silk executed mainly in knotwork.

Object details

Category
Ornament
Object type
Ruyi
Materials and techniques
Carved bamboo with silk tassel
Bamboo
Silk
Carved
Brief description
Ruyi sceptre, carved bamboo, China, Qing dynasty, 1740-1790
Physical description
Bamboo ruyi sceptre, handle shaped as a branch of partly decayed wood with foliage and fruiting sprays of pomegranate, peach and Buddha's citron; a large insect on the pomegranate spray and a bat on the peach spray. The head is formed from a pair of Buddha's citrons with foliage and a single bat. Attached to the end of the handle is a long double tassel in blue, red and green silk executed mainly in knotwork.
Dimensions
  • Length: 47cm
From Register, excluding tassel
Style
Qing
Gallery label
(2009)
Ruyi sceptre
Qing dynasty
1740-1790

The word ruyi literally means 'as you wish'. Here several auspicious symbols - peaches, bats, Buddha's hand citrons, pomegranates and cicadas - convey the wish 'may you fulfil all the wishes'.

Carved bamboo with silk tassel

Museum no. FE.21-1976
(pre 2005)
JU-I SCEPTRE
Bamboo root carved with auspicious fruits, animals and insects
CHINESE; 18th century
FE21-1976
Object history
Formerly Grice Loan no.28
Subjects depicted
佛手
桃實
石榴
蝙蝠 (科)
蟬 (科)
折枝
Bibliographic reference
Clunas, Craig. Chinese Carving. London: Sun Tree Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1996. p. 50, fig. 52.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
FE.21-1976

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O467414/ruyi-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest