Page 32 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRINCELY COLLECTION
15 AN IRON ARTICULATED SCULPTURE OF A
DRAGON

EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KIYOHARU (MYOCHIN KIYOHARU)
The russet-iron dragon finely constructed of
numerous hammered plates jointed inside
the body; the hinged jaw opening to reveal a
movable tongue, ears, limbs and claws move,
the body bends, the head is applied with
elaborate horns, spines and whiskers, the
tail of the dragon entwining a double-edged
gilt kurikaraken (sword), the details are finely
carved and chiseled, the eyes of shakudo
embellished with gilt; signature on underside
of right arm
13ƒ in. (33.8 cm.) long

$60,000-80,000

PROVENANCE:
Bonhams, London, 10 November 2011, lot 376

The dragon is associated with Buddhism, Shinto and a wealth of
legends as a harbinger of fertility, bliss and imperial power. The
Dragon King of the Sea lives in a palace in the depth of the ocean
from which he controls the weather and tides. The dragon is often
described to be the most powerful mythical creature. In esoteric
Buddhism, the dragon and double-edged sword, entwined
together as the kurikara, symbolize the spiritual lasso and sword
of the deity Fudo Myoo (Sanskrit, Acala "The Immovable One"),
in Japanese especially revered by the samurai. The dragon is an
imperial symbol and foremost of the four divine animals.
For a similar work by the same artist in the collection of the
British Museum, see Harada Kazutoshi, ed., Jizai Okimono /
Articulated Iron Figures of Animals, Rokusho 11, special edition (2010),
no. 6.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Dragon (ryu), from Picture
Book on Heros of China and Japan (Ehon wakan no homare).
Japan. Edo period , 1850. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013.882