† ICHIYU: A SUPERB NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT KIRINBy Ichiyu, signed Ichiyu 一友Japan, Nagoya, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Superbly carved with intricate details, depicting a recumbent two-horned kirin with long flowing whiskers, a well-carved mane, ridged spine, and finely incised, bushy tail which sweeps around its side. The legs are tucked close to the body, the two forelegs arched as the kirin lifts itself ever so slightly, the head turned backwards curiously. Natural himotoshi and signed ICHIYU within a shaped, polished reserve underneath.LENGTH 3.7 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear. Old repair to one of the whiskers.Provenance: De-accessioned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Sotheby's, Netsuke, Ojime, Inro, 8 January 1981, Honolulu, lot 97. A noted private collection, USA.This type of coveted kirin carving was likely invented by Ikkan of Nagoya and the model was treated with slight variations, generally increasing in intricacy, by several members of the Nagoya school lineage such as Ichimin, Ichiyu, Masatoshi and Masayuki.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a singled horn kirin by Masatoshi illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (1993) Zodiac Beasts and Distant Cousins, no. 56.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a recumbent kirin by Ikkan, sold at Bonhams, Tradition Travel Transition Japanese Art Across the Centuries, 4 November 2021, London, lot 6 (sold for 19,000 GBP). Also compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a recumbent kirin by Ichimin, sold at Quinn’s Auction Galleries, The Helen & Jack Mang Collection of Netsuke, 7 December 2007, Falls Church, Virginia, lot 218 (sold for hammer price 12,000 USD).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.