A wrought russet iron ryûsa manjû-type ornament in the shape of a coiled dragon, by Toshitsugu. Late 19th century - image-1

Lot 182 Dα

A wrought russet iron ryûsa manjû-type ornament in the shape of a coiled dragon, by Toshitsugu. Late 19th century

Auction 1036 - overview Cologne
14.06.2014, 10:00 - The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke I
Estimate: 1.000 € - 1.500 €
Result: 2.684 € (incl. premium)
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A wrought russet iron ryûsa manjû-type ornament in the shape of a coiled dragon, by Toshitsugu. Late 19th century

The dragon coiled to form an almost perfect round and fitted with a diamond (0.25 karat) in his claw in place of the jewel. The eyes and tongue are gilded, the teeth silvered. Signed Toshi (in cursive script) and tsugu (gilded seal) saku (in regular script).
Diameter 4.4 cm

A very similar ornament, once in the collection of Raymond Bushell (Bushell 1975, p. 153, no. 356) and today in the Los Angeles County Museum, bears the signature of Mitsukiyo written in kaisho (mitsu) and with a seal (kiyo). There are many kinkô masters listed by the name of Toshimitsu, some of them active into the 20th century, while the late, otherwise unknown artist by the name of Mitsukiyo is listed with a menuki of dragon (Tôsô kinkô jiten, p. 236 and 172). This ornament perhaps functioned as obidome.