A bamboo scepterChina, Ming (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1912), 17th–18th century|The golden-hued natural bamboo rhizome twisting and curling to resemble a lingzhi fungusWith a Japanese wooden tomobako storage box, the exterior of the lid inscribed Kochiku nyoi 古竹如意 (Scepter made from old bamboo), the interior of the lid with an attestation by Yamamoto Chikyuryōsai II 二代山本竹龍斎 to the effect that the scepter was a treasured possession of Shōen 笙園 (Yamamoto Chikyuryōsai I 初代山本竹龍斎, 1868–1950), praising its perfect shape and expressing the writer's intention to preserve and cherish it, signed Chikyuryōsai 竹龍斎 with seal Yama Takesada in 山武貞印 (Seal of Yama[moto] Takesada) 10 1/8in (25.9cm) long