THREE METAL-INLAID ARTIFACTS The ding vessels, 18th century; the scepter, 17th century (3)

THREE METAL-INLAID ARTIFACTS
The ding vessels, 18th century; the scepter, 17th century
The two vessels inlaid in the archaic style with taotie masks and stylised archaistic motifs on a leiwen ground around the rounded bodies and which continues partially down the legs, the rim and handles inlaid with key-pattern; together with a silver inlaid and gold-leaf decorated iron ruyi scepter with a large ogival cartouche of fruiting peach on a T-pattern ground on the ruyi-head at one end and with six smaller fruit and flower cartouches on the handle, the reverse side with a thirteen-character inlaid inscription.
the vessels: 4 3/8in and 2 3/4in (11cm and 7cm) high; the scepter 12 1/4in (31cm) long, cloth boxes (3).
Footnotes:
十八世纪 小件貼金銅鼎與鑲嵌銅鼎各一
十七世紀 鑲嵌鐵如意

題識：吾意莊如脊如，吾意否如弗如

A comparable iron ruyi scepter, dated to 1776, crafted with the same technique and having the same inscription, is in the collection of the British Museum, no. 1985,1216.1.