A wood sashi netsuke of a flying dragon


Early 19th centuryUnsigned. 17.2cm (6¾in) long.
|木彫差し根付　龍　無銘　19世紀前期Provenance: Frederick Meinertzhagen collection.W. W. Winkworth collection, purchased 1960.Published: Meinertzhagen, MCI, p.1024 and on the spine of the dust cover.Lazarnick, NIA, p.1309.Katchen, N7, vol.2, p.355, no.K84.The limbless beast facing forward, its large head with inlaid pupils and open mouth containing a loose ball, wings carved in relief on each flank and its tail curled, its back carved in relief with four characters, Ichi yaku sen ri　弌躍千里 (1000 ri in one bound).Meinertzhagen opined, 'A remarkably fine netsuke, of outstanding character and originality, finely carved, boldly, modelled and impressive, of considerable power in its treatment: in perfect undamaged state, the wood showing a rich brown patina'.A somewhat similar example, bearing the same inscription, is illustrated in Egerton Ryerson, The Netsuke of Japan, G. Bell & Sons Ltd., London, 1958, pl.4, no.1. A lacquered example is illustrated in Earle, NFR, p.101, no.65.