Live Auction 19824Japanese and Korean Art
A ROCK CRYSTAL SPHERE ON A SILVER DRAGON
Lot 37

A ROCK CRYSTAL SPHERE ON A SILVER DRAGON

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED GYOKURYUKEN SANMI

Closed16 March 2021

Price Realised

USD 62,500

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A ROCK CRYSTAL SPHERE ON A SILVER DRAGON
MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED GYOKURYUKEN SANMI
The crystal sphere set on a silver coiled dragon finely cast and chiseled, the eyes, teeth and claws of dragon elaborately embellished with gilt, eyes inlaid in shakudo, the incised signature on underside
6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) high
With certificate 6214457397 dated 10 February 2021 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the sphere is rock crystal

Specialist note

The dragon is associated with a wealth of legend and symbolism in old Japan, signifying both the holy nature of Shinto and the wisdom of Buddhism. Representations of the dragon are found from the earliest historical period, wall paintings in the stone tomb chambers of the Kofun period (4th-7th centuries) together with tiger, phoenix, and gryphon. In Shinto mythology the deity Ryujin is a dragon who lives under the sea and bears a jewel that controls the tides. In esoteric Buddhism, the dragon and the sword indicate the rope and double-edged sword of Fudo Myo-o.
For a silver ornament of a dragon and crystal ball see Joe Earle, Splendors of Meiji, Treasures of Imperial Japan, Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection (St. Petersburg, Fla.: Broughton International, Inc., 1999), pl. 135.