152 - TOYOKAZU: A MASTERFUL WOOD RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE OF A DRAGON AMONG SWIRLING CLOUDS

TOYOKAZU: A MASTERFUL WOOD RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE OF A DRAGON AMONG SWIRLING CLOUDS By Shugasai Toyokazu, signed Toyokazu 豊一 Japan, Sasayama, Tanba Province, mid-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A masterpiece of remarkably crisp and controlled carving, the powerful dragon tightly coiled within a dense mass of swirling clouds, its sinuous body twisting dynamically through the openwork composition. Every scale is sharply defined, while the fierce head emerges dramatically from the clouds with flaming whiskers, a bifurcated horn, and a large eye inlaid in pale translucent horn. The deeply pierced cloud scrolls curl around and through the body, creating an exceptional sense of depth and movement while maintaining a perfectly balanced circular design. Natural himotoshi and signed within a raised circular reserve to the dragon’s body TOYOKAZU. DIAMETER 4.8 cm Provenance: Harriet Szechenyi Collection, Zurich. Bonhams London, 8 November 2011, lot 102 (sold for GBP 8,125 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Excellent condition with only minimal wear such as light scratches. Shugasai Toyokazu is widely regarded as the most accomplished pupil of Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856). Dragon ryusa manju of this distinctive type were executed by both master and pupil, allowing a particularly revealing comparison between their work. The present netsuke demonstrates Toyokazu at his very finest: the extraordinary crispness of the scales, clouds, whiskers, and facial details, combined with the depth and complexity of the openwork, rivals the finest examples associated with Toyomasa. Despite its densely interwoven design, every element remains clearly articulated, making this an exceptional masterpiece of Tanba-school carving. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood ryusa manju netsuke of a dragon by the same artist, signed Toyokazu, dated c. 1800, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 947. For a closely related example by Naito Toyomasa, see Marie-Thérèse Coullery and Martin S. Newstead, The Baur Collection, Netsuke, p.127, no.C269, illustrated in color, p.41. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood manju netsuke of a dragon by Naito Toyomasa, 4.1 cm wide, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 8 May 2026, Vienna, lot 221 (sold for EUR 23,400).