Copper plated with gold, eight immortals and longevity star Ruyi

[Copper plated eight immortals longevity star Ruyi]

Copper plated eight immortals longevity star Ruyi, clear, 41 cm long, 11.2 cm wide first
This set of Ruyi is a complete set of nine handles, which not only contains the meaning of Ruyi, but also takes the largest “nine” in the number of yang, representing nine such. Ruyi is made by copper-plated gold-plated flower carving technology. The head is carved with eight immortals and the birthday star respectively, and the handle is carved with various “longevity” characters, implying that the immortals wish birthday. The copper gold-plated ware in Guangzhou wins by smooth and bright. Its technology may have borrowed from European gold-plating technology and improved the traditional fire plating method. The luster and thickness of the ware are different from those of the copper gold-plated ware in the manufacturing office, Suzhou and Yangzhou, showing more magnificence. These nine handles are a congratulatory gift from Guangdong officials to the emperor, empress dowager and empress
Ruyi is a symbol of good luck. In the Qing Dynasty, officials often took Ruyi as the leader in their tribute lists. Especially after the middle and late Qianlong period, they often paid tribute with nine Ruyi sets, up to ninety-nine eighty-one at most.

铜镀金八仙寿星如意头纹饰