A BAMBOO SCEPTERChina, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), 
17th century|The scepter formed from a natural bamboo rhizome with a rich golden-brown patina, the twisted end resembling a lingzhi fungusWith a double Japanese wooden tomobako storage box, the exterior of the outer lid inscribed Take nyoi 竹如意 (Bamboo scepter), the interior of the inner box lid inscribed 唯我独尊庵什宝竹如意者形状奇古頗極造化之妙所謂人工不及天工者信然 (The form of this bamboo scepter, a treasure of the Yuigadokuson-an [a hermitage named for the first words of Shakyamuni Buddha after he was born from his mother's side], is an extremely wondrous curiosity of nature such as the hand of man could surely never achieve), dated Kanoe-tatsu chūshū ato ichinichi 庚辰中秋後一日 (The second day of the eighth month of 1880) and signed Tessai Kissō Yarō 銕哉喆叟耶老 (Lucky old man Tessai) 12 1/2in (31.8cm) long