Description A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A BAYING KIRIN IN THE STYLE OF MITSUHARUUnsignedJapan, 19th centuryFinely carved as a kirin, the body and neck dynamically turned backwards, the head and snout raised, the mythical beast powerfully roaring. The details are boldly carved, the flaming, bushy tail curls upwards and touches the Kirin on the chin. The haunches and the scales covering the body are neatly incised. Asymmetrical himotoshi through the polished rectangular base.HEIGHT 4.5 cmCondition: Very condition, minor wear, some light surface scratches to the base.Provenance: European collection.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 as shishi. The rest of the body is covered in dense plumage, like that of a phoenix.Auction comparisons:Compare to a similar netsuke, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 235 (sold for 17,082 EUR). Compare also to another similar netsuke, at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 12 June 2019, Cologne, lot 2233 (sold for 25,800 EUR). Compare a related ivory netsuke of a Kirin, attributed to Mitsuharu, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 50 (sold for 15,168 EUR).