A REISHI-FUNGUS SCEPTERJapan, Showa era (1926–1989), 1929 The large scepter formed from a natural branch of reishi fungus, the stem with a black-lacquer finish|With a Japanese wooden tomobako storage box, the outside of the lid inscribed Zuiun 瑞雲 (Auspicious Clouds), the side painted with an ink rendering of the scepter, with a signed title 芝叶保卍壽 (A reishi plant assures long life) and a signed Chinese poem 九莖呈瑞美三秀擅英奇 (Its nine branches bestow good fortune and beauty, the reishi surpasses in splendid curiosity), the inside of the lid with a 28-character Chinese poem in praise of the scepter, dated Shōwa tsuchinoto-mi shoshun 昭和己巳 初春 (January 1929) and signed Nyoi sanjin dai 如意山人題 (inscribed by Nyoi the recluse) with seals Shinzui 真瑞 and Nyoi sanjin 如意山人 14 1/2in (36.7cm) long