GYOKURYŪSAI 玉龍斎A hardwood scepter in the form of a skull and lotus root Japan, Edo period (1615–1868), 19th century|Carved from keyaki (zelkova) wood, in the form of a long curving segmented lotus root with the head in the form of a skull, incised with a poem: Stay on your guard, a lotus-flower root is a muddy stick, playing on the two meanings of dorobō 泥棒, "muddy stick" or "thief"; followed by an inscription for the poem Yōren daioshō ei 涌蓮大和尚詠 (Poem by the great priest Yōren) and a signature Gyokuryūsai kore o tsukuru 玉龍斎造之 (Made by Gyokuryūsai)With a modern Japanese wooden storage box 20 1/8in (51 1/8cm) long