226 - A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HATCHING ONI (ONI NO TAMAGO)

A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HATCHING ONI (ONI NO TAMAGO) Inscribed Koku 谷 Japan, late 19 th century Finely carved in the form of an upturned egg, the compact ovoid shell pierced at the front by a jagged opening through which a mischievous oni peers outward. Its fierce, fanged face is powerfully rendered with deeply furrowed brows, bulging eyes, and a broad, almost triumphant grimace, as though proudly celebrating its improbable emergence. The pale wood of the demon provides a striking contrast to the dark ebony shell. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the reverse, the larger hole with a gilt inscription reading Koku. HEIGHT 3.8 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The egg shell with old joins and traces of adhesive around the opening, likely inherent to the construction, the shell apparently having been reassembled after the oni was inserted. The present netsuke represents a highly unusual variation on the well-known tengu no tamago motif, in which a young tengu is shown breaking through or emerging from an egg. Here, however, the familiar tengu has been replaced by an oni, transforming a recognizable subject into a rare and humorous invention. The demon’s self-satisfied expression further heightens the visual joke, presenting the viewer with an unexpected and deliberately bewildering reinterpretation of a familiar theme. No comparable netsuke of an oni emerging from an egg appears to be recorded in the Fuld Netsuke Collection database, underscoring the exceptional rarity of the subject.