ITTAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A LONG-SNOUTED WILD BOARBy Ittan, signed Ittan sanjin 一旦山人 Japan, Nagoya, c. 1865A finely stained wood netsuke of a long-snouted boar with its head lowered to the ground, the right hind and left forelegs drawn in for compactness and the left hind and right foreleg extended forwards. The boar with a deeply contented expression, well detailed with narrowed eyes, a long snout, curved tusks, and laid-back ears, the fur masterfully incised, the natural himotoshi between the left hind and fore legs, the underside with the signature ITTAN sanjin.LENGTH 4.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: Sotheby’s, 9 November 2006, London, lot 1092. Sydney L. Moss, London, 2008. French private collection, acquired from the above.The sanjin in the signature implies a late work by this artist, likely after 1865, and this appears to be only boar by Ittan with its head lowered rather than raised (as in lot 82).Auction comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a recumbent wild boar by Masatami, similarly stained and incised, and with a similar long snout, 4.8 cm wide, dated 19th century, at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part III, 6 November 2018, London, lot 102 (sold for 18,125 GBP).