Mother and son with tengu mask c. 19th century

This 19th-century netsuke, carved by Chounsai, depicts a mother and son. The mother, dressed in traditional Japanese garb, holds a tengu mask in her hand. The tengu are mythical creatures with long noses, who are often depicted in Japanese art. The son, standing behind his mother, appears to be looking at the mask with a mischievous grin. This intricate, miniature sculpture is a fine example of the netsuke genre, a form of traditional Japanese art.