Smoking Dragon
1868
Moriki Rosetsu Japanese, active 19th century
Japan
This is a witty New Year’s image of an ash container of a smoking set (tabakobon). The ash from a pipe was usually knocked out and placed in a bamboo tube that formed a part of the smoking set. As such, this tube typically emitted a small trail of smoke. In the imagination of the artist, the tube held a fire-breathing dragon, emitting smoke from its mouth and lurking just inside.
Color woodblock print; surimono