The lyre bird's retreat [cameo carved emu egg]

On the eve of Australian Federation in 1901, the fashion for mounted emu eggs as an expression of growing national identity gained momentum. Whether carved or unadorned, the eggs were incorporated into silverware or electroplated stands. Carved or decorated eggs such as The lyre bird’s retreat depicted Australia’s distinctive icons – the kangaroo, emu, cockatoo and lyrebird– all improbably sharing the same bushland setting. The carver of this egg, the Japanese-born Jonoski Takuma, was Australia’s leading contemporary emu egg carver.

Takuma arrived in Australia in 1888 as ship’s crew and two years later married an Australian woman, with whom he had three children. In 1895 he set up a workshop in the Imperial Arcade, Pitt Street, Sydney, where he carved emu eggs.

In late 1895, George Robertson & Co. published the Emu Series of Australian Christmas Cards, produced by Takuma. These eight coloured cards replicated scenes he had engraved on emu eggs and depicted Australian animals, Sydney Harbour and bushmen sitting around a camp. Number three in the series was entitled The lyre bird’s retreat.

In 1896, Takuma, who was a fluent English speaker and writer, wrote and illustrated a children’s book, Kookaburra (The Laughing Jackass) and the Black Snake, also published by George Robertson. Presented in the shape of an emu egg, it contained illustrations of similar style to his emu egg carvings. (1)

(1) I acknowledge the contributions of Lindsay Harris, and Barbara Hancock of the Philatelic Association NSW, in sharing their research on Jonoski Takuma.

Dr Jennifer Harris, Visiting Research Fellow (Art History), University of Adelaide