An impressive fully articulated, Japanese wooden Okimono of a Dragon

An impressive fully articulated, Japanese wooden Okimono of a Dragon.

Date: 1868 - 1912.

Width: 85cms.

A large wooden Okimono of a dragon with fully moving articulated parts. Offered in excellent condition, this dragon forms part of our collection of Japanese Meiji-era Jizai pieces.

Dragon

Dragons are hugely significant in Asian culture. Known as the Ryu or Tatsu in Japan, they are closely related to the Chinese Long and Korean Yong.  Like all Asian dragons they lack wings and are serpent-like in form. The Japanese dragons rarely fly and usually reside in or near the sea and other bodies of water.

Japanese dragons have positive symbolism. They are good and represent wisdom, generosity and they are portrayed as using their powers to help mankind. (Unlike the Dragons of Western mythology.)

Generally you can tell a Chinese dragon from a Japanese by counting the toes, a Chinese having four or five and a Japanese having three.

Jizai

Jizai (from the Japanese to move) Okimono are articulated sculptures of insects, sealife or animals. The first ones were made as curiosities by the armorers for the Samurai, they were put aside as a bit of fun. But when the Meiji Restoration happened and the Samurai became obsolete, the armorers had to find a new use for their skills. They turned back to Jizai making and developed their skills using many different metals, such as iron, bronze and silver. The resulting artworks were very popular in west and it became a new source of revenue, the Myochin family were particularly skilled Jizai artists and many of their works now reside in museums.

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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