AN IRON ARTICULATED SCULPTURE OF A DRAGON

AN IRON ARTICULATED SCULPTURE OF A DRAGON

EDO PERIOD (18TH-19TH CENTURY), SIGNED MUNEMITSU (MYOCHIN MUNEMITSU)

The 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 hinged movable 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 neck

17 3⁄8 in. (44.1 cm.) long