A Pair of Champlevé Enamel 'Sanduo' Ruyi Sceptres Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

each cast in openwork with an arched gilt-bronze shaft resembling a gnarled leafy branch and a head in the form of two fruit decorated in champlevé enamels next to gilt-bronze leaves, one head with two finger citrons gradating from lime-green to yellow, the other with two ripe pomegranates coloured in green, orange and red, the shaft bearing two small corresponding fruits in champlevé enamels and gilt-bronze leaves, the openwork terminal suspending a tasselled endless knot

Good overall condition, with just minor dents and general surface wear to the extremities, and small areas of rubbing to the gilding. The colour in the catalogue photo if fairly accurate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

See a closely related set of three ruyi sceptres, the terminals formed as pairs of peaches, finger-citron and pomegranate, sold in these rooms, 22nd May 1979, lot 296; another pair, one cast as a peach branch and the other as a pomegranate branch, sold in these rooms, 20th November 1984, lot 510; and a slightly later example, but with a single peach head, sold in our New York rooms, 16th March 1984, lot 103. Compare also a gilt-bronze sceptre similarly decorated with two finger-citrons on the terminal and leaves dispersed down the gnarled shaft, sold in our New York rooms, 22nd March 2000, lot 40; and another embellished with pomegranates, in the Osterreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst collection, included in the exhibition Die Ware aus dem Teufelsland, Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt am Main, 1981, cat. no. 12.

For a gilt bronze sceptre of this type, but cast with all three fruit, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, see one illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Ju-i Sceptres in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1974, pl. 29; and a zitan version inlaid with jade and various hardstones to depict a finger-citron, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005, cat. no. 277.

The combination of a finger-citron, peach and pomegranate form the 'Three Abundances' (sanduo) to represent longevity, blessings and many sons respectively.