A VERY RARE AND LARGE SAISHIKI NETSUKE OF A RUNNING KIRIN Unsigned Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 20, no. 1, Spring 2000, p. 13, fig.1. Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke, p. 36. Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Sweden, Stockholm, 16 October 1999 – 9 January 2000. A large, dynamic saishiki (painted) hinoki wood netsuke of a running Kirin. The one-horned mythical creature looks backwards, its finely carved curls flowing in the wind. The eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The hooves are wide apart, the dynamism of the composition is captured very well by the artist. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi through the underside. The hinoki (cypress) wood is colored in polychrome pigments and gesso, characteristically worn. LENGTH 8.5 cm Condition: Good, appropriately worn condition. Provenance: Ex-collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman. The Kirin is one of the divine creatures and is a symbol for gracefulness, goodness and virtue. It is also very shy and runs so fast that neither man nor animal can keep up with it. This very rare netsuke is the only recorded Kirin executed in saishiki.