Scepters were ceremonial objects held along the arm to indicate one’s authority, but were also marks of elegance from the late 16th century onwards. Ming period ruyi were often of wood, naturalistically carved to resemble the lingzhi, a type of fungus believed able to confer immortality.
Root
L.: 19 3/4 in.
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
60.27
Not currently on view
Resources
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Pure Amusements: Wealth, Leisure, and Culture in Late Imperial China, Dec. 24, 2016 - May 15, 2022.
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