MASAKAZU: A SUPERB NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF KIYOHIMEBy Masakazu, signed Masakazu 正一Japan, Nagoya, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The vengeful monster Kiyohime depicted here in humanoid form with long flowing hair, leaning against the Dojo-ji bell, hunched forwards with a menacing expression, one hand grasping the double-dragon handle of the temple bell, the other holding a striker. The details are superbly carved, the bell is adorned with raised studs and minutely carved rain dragons, and the reddish cherry wood bears a fine patina. Himotoshi through the bell and signed underneath MASAKAZU.HEIGHT 4 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, purchased at Lempertz, The Papp Collection of Netsuke, 16 June 2018, Cologne, lot 1052. Formerly collection Papp, collection no. 449, purchased from Helmut Laudenbach, Berg, January 1989.In this tragic story, Kyohime fell in love with a Buddhist monk named Anchin but was rejected. In despair she pursues the monk and transforms herself into a Hannya-like demon with a snake body and horned head. The pursued Anchin hides under a temple bell. When she discovers him there, she wraps her snake body around the bell and the glow of her passion melts the metal and burns the monk hiding in the bell.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of Kiyohime, by Masakazu, depicted in a similar posture, illustrated in Eskenazi (1997) Japanese Netsuke, Ojime and Inro from the Dawson Collection, pp. 24-25, no. 25. Another closely related wood netsuke of Kiyohime, by Masakazu, depicted in a different posture, is illustrated in Jirka-Schmitz Patrizia, The World of Netsuke, The Werdelmann Collection at the Museum Kunst Palast Düsseldorf, p. 83, no. 263.Museum comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of Kiyohime, depicted in a similar posture as the present netsuke, by Tadatoshi, late 18th century, Nagoya, at the Walters Art Museum, accession number 61.236.Auction comparison:Compare to a related wood netsuke, by Tametaka, depicting Kiyohime in a similar posture, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 4 November 2022, Vienna, lot 57 (sold for 6,175 EUR).