Description † SANMI: A MASTERFUL SILVER OKIMONO OF A DRAGON WITH ROCK CRYSTAL SPHEREBy Gyokuryuken Sanmi (art name Kazumi), signed Kazumi with kakihanJapan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Powerfully cast, the ferocious three-clawed dragon standing atop a rootwood base, its sinuous body precisely rendered with myriad scales and a spiked spine and mane, the eyes picked out in gilt, a separately cast gust of flames emanating from the beast's jaws holding a rock crystal sphere, signed to the dragon's underbelly within a shaped reserve KAZUMI with a kakihan (artist's monogram)LENGTH 31 cm, HEIGHT 32.5 cm (incl. base)WEIGHT 3.5 kg (excl. base and sphere)Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Small repair to the tip of the tail.Gyokuryuken Sanmi (art name Kazumi) was an exceptional artist renowned for his masterful silver metal work during the reign of the Meiji emperor.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 griffin. 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.Literature comparison: 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. Also compare to a closely related, yet larger bronze model of a dragon in similar pose, by the Miyao company, Meiji no Takara: Treasures of Imperial Japan - The Nasser D. Khalili Collection, The Kibo Foundation, 1995, Metalwork part II, no. 108.Auction comparison:Compare a related silver dragon with rock crystal sphere by Gyokuryuken Sanmi, also dated late 19th century, Meiji period, 16.8 cm high, at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 16 March 2021, lot 37 (sold for 62,500 USD).