19TH CENTURY

A similar enameled porcelain ruyi scepter, dated to the Daoguang period, was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 250. As with the present scepter, the 'plaques' are pierced and convex, and the foliate decoration on the handle is quite similar and reserved on a pale yellow ground. Another scepter, with a Qianlong mark, turquoise-enameled 'plaques', and foliate sprays on a bright yellow ground on the handle, is illustrated in Selected Porcelain of the Flourishing Qing Dynasty at the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1994, p. 337, no. 71. Also illustrated, p. 337, no. 72, is another scepter decorated in iron red, gold and blue enamel.