After Masakazu (1839-1891), signed MasakazuJapan, Nagoya, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Finely carved as a mermaid suckling its child who holds up a fish in one hand. The details are neatly engraved, such as the long hair and the bifurcated tail fin which curls up from underneath. The dorsal part offers two possibilities for threading the cord: two large holes on each side of the hanging hairs or the large opening under the tail fin. Signed MASAKAZU behind the left arm.HEIGHT 5 cmCondition: Good condition, tiny chip to the child’s tail fin and some natural ‘flaws’ to the wood.Provenance: German private collection.Literature comparison:A very similar example is in the Linden Museum, accession no. OA 18997.