Project Description

Kyoto School Ivory Netsuke of a Dragon with Large Loose Tama

It clutches a small tama in a front claw while protecting with its whole body a larger cage of cloud with a loose tama within. The eye pupils are inlays of dark material

Unsigned.  Circa 1780

4.9 cm across

This is undoubtedly by an artist contemporary with Tomotada, who certainly treated the subject.  Compare with another unsigned example in the British Museum, illustrated in N. Tsuchiya, Netsuke, pp. 122-123

MR3814