SIGNED KOMA KANSAI SAKU, EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY), A three-case lacquer inro

A three-case lacquer inro
Signed Koma Kansai saku, Edo period (19th century)
Representing the Noh play Dojoji, in the form of a large temple bell and decorated in gold, silver and polychrome lacquer hiramaki-e, takamaki-e with a vengeful female ghost with horns, the tip of her dragon-form tail creating the knob of the bell, the reverse with Anchin crouching and playing, the riser designed with uroko (scale) pattern represents snake
4 ¼ in. (10.8 cm.) long

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Lot Essay

The subject is an allusion to the No play Musume Dojoji, 'The maiden of the Dojo Temple', in which a handsome young priest named Anchin, rashly encouraged Kiyohime, the pretty daughter of the head-man of the village of Masago, until she responded with passion, when he retired to his monastery, where his fellow-monks hid him beneath the great bell which had been lowered from its belfry. But Kiyohime, taking the form of a fiery dragon, found his hiding place and entwining the bell, lashed it with her tail until the priest within was burnt to ashes.