Artwork preview

Netsuke of Qilin with a Ball

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Netsuke of Qilin with a Ball features a sculpture of a qilin, a mythical creature. The sculpture is made of a material with a predominantly off-white color and brown striations. The qilin has a rounded body with a curled tail at the back. Its head is adorned with long, thin, curved horns and a flowing mane. The creature's facial features include small eyes and a mouth with a long, curved tusk-like protrusion. It has a front leg bent at the elbow, with its paw resting on a ball. The background of the image is a plain gray surface.

Artwork details

Date:
19th century
Medium:
Ivory
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
600 × 400 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette