Auspicious Ju-i Scepters of China 吉祥如意文物特展圖錄
Taipei: National Palace Museum, 1995. Very Good / Very Good. Item #8939
ISBN: 9575622006
Taipei: National Palace Museum, 1995. First Edition. Octavo in slipcase (volume 29x22x2.5cm; slipcase 30.5x22.5x3cm); 287pp. Full-color full-page plates for each of 130 catalogued items; images repeated as B&W thumbnails for final index of specifications. About 90 additional color and B&W photographs and documentary images in introduction. Principally in Chinese; augmented with image captions and core introductory text in English.
Note that the volume, while intended principally for a Chinese audience, is bound in the Western mode, with the spine on the left. The slipcase, however, is handled in reverse, in the Chinese mode.
Slipcase in slate-blue cloth with photographic panels against metallic gold ground; dust jacket repeats the same layout. Volume bound in slate-blue cloth with gilt spine stamping and blind-stamped title in Chinese on front panel.
One small nick (05.cm) to slipcase front, otherwise nearly as new; dust jacket in same excellent condition. Textblock unmarred and unmarked.
The introduction covers the Buddhist associations and origins of the auspicious scepters, and their evolution through 1700 years of Chinese dynasties.
Price: $165.00