172 - MASAKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF KUZUNOHA WITH HER CHILD

MASAKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF KUZUNOHA WITH HER CHILD By Masakazu, signed Masakazu 正一 Japan, Nagoya, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved from cherry ( sakura) wood as the fox-woman Kuzunoha seated on her haunches, tenderly cradling her infant son Abe no Seimei, who is swaddled in voluminous cloth. Kuzunoha bends her head affectionately toward the child, a writing brush held delicately in her mouth, while her fur is minutely incised throughout, contrasting beautifully with the smoothly polished head of the infant and the deeply carved folds of the swaddling cloth. Her hind legs and long bushy tail curl beneath and across the front of the group, creating a compact and beautifully integrated composition. Natural himotoshi through the paws and tail, and signed MASAKAZU within a polished reserve at the tip of the tail. HEIGHT 3.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear. The present netsuke depicts one of Japan’s most beloved fox legends, that of Kuzunoha. Disguised as a beautiful woman, the fox spirit married Abe no Yasuna after he rescued her from hunters and bore him a son, the celebrated onmyoji Abe no Seimei. When her true identity was revealed, Kuzunoha prepared to leave her family, composing her poignant farewell poem with a brush held in her mouth while embracing her child - the touching moment captured here. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of Kuzunoha by the same artist, signed Masakazu, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 199, no. 603. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of Kuzunoha by the same artist, signed Masakazu, dated early 19 th century, 3.2 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, accession number A.809-1910. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of Kuzunoha by the same artist, signed Masakazu, 3.5 cm high, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 17 (sold for GBP 4,062 or approx. EUR 6,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).