Until 1st Jan, 2025
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Ɏ A GOOD KYOTO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A KIRIN
LOT 84 - NE1124
Unsigned
Japan, Kyoto, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The mythical beast dynamically posed, hunched over in an unusual position, its body forming an arch, its head lowered against the ground, the mouth slightly opened. Its eyes are encircled in the manner of the Kyoto carver Mitsuharu, the pupils inlaid in dark horn. The body with finely carved plumage, a voluminous bushy tail, a flowing mane, and a single curved horn which arches along its back. Large himotoshi through the side and under the body. The ivory bearing a fine patina, attractively worn throughout with spots of 'honey-patina'.
LENGTH 4.4 cm
Condition: Very good condition with several natural age cracks. Appealingly worn.
The Kirin is derived from the Chinese mythical beast Qilin, one of the four divine creatures, the others being the dragon, phoenix and turtle. The Japanese Kirin is something of wild mythical fantasy – its most characteristic feature is of course the horn, as it is also called the Japanese unicorn. It has four legs with hooves and the hindlegs are covered with very well-expressed fatty tissue, like that of a Shishi. The rest of the body is covered in dense plumage, like that of a phoenix.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a kirin in a similar hunched pose, by Tomotada, illustrated in Joe Earle (2001) Netsuke, Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture, Boston, MFA Publications, p. 110, no. 74.
Auction comparison:
The pose of the kirin is quite unusual and is reminiscent of a group of netsuke traditionally described as “hakutaku”, for a related larger example see Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 7 December 2017, Cologne, lot 2302 (sold for EUR 24,510). Also compare to a related ivory netsuke of a baying kirin, attributed to Mitsuharu, note particularly the similar plumage and eyes, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 50 (sold for EUR 15,168).
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 24-B-0298).
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