Artwork preview

Netsuke of a Man and an Egg

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A small, intricately carved figure of a man with a beard sits on the left side, facing a large egg. The man wears a traditional robe and holds a fan in his right hand. A snail is on top of the egg. The man and egg are carved from a light-colored material, possibly ivory. The background is dark at the top and light gray at the bottom.

Artwork details

Date:
19th century
Medium:
Ivory
Culture:
Japan
Dimensions:
468 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette