Tengu no tamago

19th century

Ivory netsuke. Eyes inlaid in dark horn

Lenght: 3.6 cm

The hatching tengu levering itself out of a broken egg with both hands while, with one wing, trailing over the shell which is engraved with simulated cracks. 

The tengu are mythological creatures of ancient japanese tradition identify both as kami (gods) and as yokai (demons). They are usually represented as bird man with a long prominent nose or, as in the case, with a beak.