This rare bamboo incense holder, signed by the artist Matetsu Koji circa 1920-1930, is carved from natural bamboo. Its decoration depicts a yūrei, or ghostly spirit, represented as an emaciated woman, holding a lock of her own hair in one gaunt hand. The black lacquered bamboo ends accentuate the simplicity and finesse of this eerie scene.

Yūrei are iconic figures in Japanese folklore, lost souls who, unable to find peace, wander between worlds. The term yūrei literally translates to "wandering soul," but these spirits are far from peaceful. Usually dressed in white robes and footless, they float, symbols of revenge, pain, or unresolved grief. Their presence embodies an inexpressible sadness, a madness that persists long after death.

This case is signed Matetsu Koji, Koji being an appreciation.

The Quai Branly Museum , exploring these creatures within the Hells and Ghosts of Asia exhibition in 2018, presented a wrist rest of the same subject signed by the same author.

27.8 x 3 x 2 cm approximately