Netsuke, toggle of ivory

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Two netsuke made of ivory are carved into tengu or wood sprites hatching from their eggs. A netsuke is used to fasten an inro, a small lacquered container, which hung from the sash of a man's kimono. They became miniature art forms in their own right.

These netsuke show tengu or woodsprites in two stages of hatching from their eggs. They helped their chief to teach Yoshitsune, a medieval hero, archery. The himetoshi, holes for passing the cord through are on the back of b) and to the side of a).

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-119-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1946.218
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Ivory
  Netsuke
  
• Dimensions: 2.00" H
  
• What: Netsuke
  
• Subject: Netsuke / ivory
  
• Who: Karasu Tengu
  
• Where: Japan
  
• Event:
• Description: Netsuke of carved ivory, Karasu Tengu emerging from an egg: Japan, 19th century
  
• References:
• Translations:
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