Netsuke of Oni Mask with Children

This ivory netsuke features a central oni mask with bulging eyes, a wide, downturned mouth, and small horns. Three child-like figures, possibly representing humans or attendants, climb over and around the mask. The material shows natural aging with dark patina highlighting the carved recesses of the mask's facial features and the children's clothing.

The imagery of children interacting with an oni mask is a common theme in Japanese folklore and art, often representing the Setsubun tradition where beans are thrown at demons to drive away bad luck at the start of spring. The oni acts as a symbol of calamity, while the children represent the domestic rites intended to pacify or ward off such forces.