Lot 3828. An impressive iron articulated sculpture of a dragon, Edo period (18th-19th century); 37 3/8 in. (94.9 cm.) long. Estimate HKD 1,600,000 - HKD 2,400,000 (USD 205,080 - USD 307,620). Price realised HKD 2,000,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018.

The russet-iron dragon finely constructed of numerous hammered plates jointed inside the body; the mouth opens, the tongue, limbs and claws move, the body bends, the head is applied with ears, elaborate horns, spines and whiskers, the details are finely carved and chiseled, the eyes of shakudo and flames embellished with gilt.

Literature: Kuo Hong-Sheng and Chang Yuan-Feng, chief eds. et al., Meiji no bi / Splendid Beauty: Illustrious Crafts of the Meiji Period (Taipei: National Taiwan Normal University Research Center for Conservation of Cultural Relics, 2013), pp. 346-351.

Exhibited: “Meiji Kogei: Amazing Japanese Art,” shown at the following venues: Tokyo University of the Arts Museum, 2016.9.7-10.30. Hosomi Museum, Kyoto, 2016.11.12-12.25. Kawagoe City Art Museum, 2017.4.22-6.11. cat. no. 3.

Note: The head of this dragon shows fine details worked in uchidashi (translate literally as “hammered”), known as special technique for creating three-dimensional, sculptural works from a thin iron sheet by hammering. The Myochin family of armorers was particularly skilled at this technique of uchidashi and the details on the present lot suggest that this dragon was made by the Myochin artist from Edo period.