Decorative ornament - Annosuke - Annosuke Dragon-Turtle Tea Pet - Japan

The Annosuke Dragon-Turtle tea pet is cast from solid copper using the lost-wax technique. Compact yet substantial, it carries a satisfying weight in the hand. The dragon head is held high, with facial features rendered in a vivid and majestic manner; the hexagonal patterns on the turtle shell are arranged with precision and clarity, while the scales on the limbs are detailed down to the finest line. The curled tail adds a sense of dynamic movement, reflecting a level of craftsmanship where every detail has been meticulously refined.

"Annosuke" is the hereditary title held by the masters of Ryūbundō, a renowned metal-casting lineage from Kyoto. Since the Edo period, Ryūbundō has stood as a premier Japanese metal-casting workshop. Each successive Annosuke has been a master craftsman of the highest caliber, deeply dedicated to the art of lost-wax casting and celebrated for creating tea ceremony implements and small-scale metal sculptures.