Period:Unknown Production date:1793-1796
Materials:paper
Technique:drawn
Subjects:chinese royal/imperial
Dimensions:Height: 443 millimetres (album cover) Height: 235 millimetres (sheet) Width: 182 millimetres Width: 334 millimetres
Description:
A jade sceptre and a large block of decorated agate on a marble pedestal; two very detailed studies on the same page; from an album of 82 drawings of China Watercolour, ink and graphite
IMG
![图片[1]-drawing; album; print study BM-1865-0520.272-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_01443525_001.jpg)
Comments:There is a list of descriptions of the subjects inserted in the front of the album. This drawing is described as: “80. A Chinese Scepter, & a block of Agate. Vide Sir Geo: Stauntons Acc.t. The Block of Agate is mentiond in Page 242.Vol 2.d. The Scepter was carved from a Piece of Agate, this was from one given by the Emperor to Sir G: Staunton R. His Majesty, & the Embassador[sic] had likewise one each, they are consider’d by the Chinese as emblems of peace & prosperity.” There is an identical drawing of the sceptre in a volume in the India Office Collection, BL, which has the following inscription above the object: “A Sceptre of Agate given by the Emperor of China to Sir G. Staunton – Sept. 1793.” and “Sceptre of Peace-“. Legouix points out that the sceptre – along with those presented by the Emperor to Macartney, for himself and George III – was in fact made from jade rather than agate (Legouix, 1980, p. 62).Engravings of both the sceptre and the agate on the pedestal are included in Staunton’s “Account”, though only the latter has Alexander’s name attached to it as author of the original drawing. The engraving of the sceptre also includes a representation of an imperial purse.The piece of agate on a marble pedastal can be identified with that described in the second volume of Staunton’s “Account”, which members of the embassy saw in the Emperor’s court: “…an agate of extraordinary size and beauty, supported on a marble pedestal, and standing in one of the pavilions upon the lake. This agate, of which there is an engraving on the opposite page, is four feet it[sic] length, carved into a landscape, and bears a copy of verses cut into it,. which were written by the Emperor.” (Staunton, vol. 2, 1796, pp. 242-243). For further information about the album, see comment for 1865,0520.193.Additional information provided by Professor Henrietta Harrison (email 7 October 2013)The original sceptre (or possibly a pair to it) is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is a jade ruyi sceptre presented by the Qianlong emperor to Sir George Macartney, then given to the Royal Asiatic Society, as can be deduced from the text accompanying this print which says it was given at the same time as the block of agate and is described in Staunton’s book.
Materials:paper
Technique:drawn
Subjects:chinese royal/imperial
Dimensions:Height: 443 millimetres (album cover) Height: 235 millimetres (sheet) Width: 182 millimetres Width: 334 millimetres
Description:
A jade sceptre and a large block of decorated agate on a marble pedestal; two very detailed studies on the same page; from an album of 82 drawings of China Watercolour, ink and graphite
IMG
Comments:There is a list of descriptions of the subjects inserted in the front of the album. This drawing is described as: “80. A Chinese Scepter, & a block of Agate. Vide Sir Geo: Stauntons Acc.t. The Block of Agate is mentiond in Page 242.Vol 2.d. The Scepter was carved from a Piece of Agate, this was from one given by the Emperor to Sir G: Staunton R. His Majesty, & the Embassador[sic] had likewise one each, they are consider’d by the Chinese as emblems of peace & prosperity.” There is an identical drawing of the sceptre in a volume in the India Office Collection, BL, which has the following inscription above the object: “A Sceptre of Agate given by the Emperor of China to Sir G. Staunton – Sept. 1793.” and “Sceptre of Peace-“. Legouix points out that the sceptre – along with those presented by the Emperor to Macartney, for himself and George III – was in fact made from jade rather than agate (Legouix, 1980, p. 62).Engravings of both the sceptre and the agate on the pedestal are included in Staunton’s “Account”, though only the latter has Alexander’s name attached to it as author of the original drawing. The engraving of the sceptre also includes a representation of an imperial purse.The piece of agate on a marble pedastal can be identified with that described in the second volume of Staunton’s “Account”, which members of the embassy saw in the Emperor’s court: “…an agate of extraordinary size and beauty, supported on a marble pedestal, and standing in one of the pavilions upon the lake. This agate, of which there is an engraving on the opposite page, is four feet it[sic] length, carved into a landscape, and bears a copy of verses cut into it,. which were written by the Emperor.” (Staunton, vol. 2, 1796, pp. 242-243). For further information about the album, see comment for 1865,0520.193.Additional information provided by Professor Henrietta Harrison (email 7 October 2013)The original sceptre (or possibly a pair to it) is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is a jade ruyi sceptre presented by the Qianlong emperor to Sir George Macartney, then given to the Royal Asiatic Society, as can be deduced from the text accompanying this print which says it was given at the same time as the block of agate and is described in Staunton’s book.
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