GYOKUMIN: A RARE WOOD MOKUGYO By Gyokumin, signed Gyokumin 玉珉 with seal 谷 Japan, Asakusa, Tokyo, second half of 19th century Finely carved as a mokugyo (gong) the handles shaped as two confronting dragon heads sharing a tama (magical jewel) in their opened mouths, the scales and curling mane finely incised. The wood is superbly polished and the mokugyo makes an appropriate sound when struck. Neatly incised signature GYOKUMIN over the carved sunken relief 'homage' seal KOKU. Natural himotoshi through the underside of the bell, however likely this was either an okimono or simply a miniature mokugyo. SIZE 8 x 8 cm Condition: Very good condition with only minimal surface wear, some age faint age cracks near the opening of the mokugyo. Provenance: European collection. Literature comparison: A similar wood netsuke of a baku-headed mokugyo is illustrated in Bandini, Rosemary (2020) The Larry Caplan Collection of Japanese Netsuke, no. 18.