A rare Japanese porcelain figure of Jigoku Dayu, the legendary Hell Courtesan, produced in Arita around 1920. The figure is shown with a traditional kiseru tobacco pipe, the defining attribute that distinguishes her from conventional representations of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. According to Japanese tradition, Jigoku Dayu became a symbol of spiritual transformation after her encounter with the Zen master Ikkyu Sojun. This unusual subject combines Buddhist symbolism with one of the most celebrated legends of Japanese cultural history.The figure is modelled seated in contemplation and painted in the classic Imari palette of cobalt blue, iron-red and gold. Her white porcelain face is finely painted, while a raised gilded urna on the forehead provides a further reference to the spiritual dimension of the subject.The reverse displays karakusa scrolls, chrysanthemum blossoms and a geometric lozenge medallion arranged as a true 360-degree composition. The unglazed base retains its...