PART 1
Using no more than 250 words, write a description of the object depicted in the two photographs.
This object is small at just 3.7 cm in length. There seems to be no information on circumference or height measurements. The shape takes that of a hare, with what appears to be a somewhat oval base. Three of the paws also take shape at the base of the object, with the forth paw raise in the front. The head is of circular shape with a prominent nose and mouth cleverly carved out of a crisscross shape which makes it look classically simple. The hare eyes have been inlaid with amber gem stones that sparkle like fire which gives the appearance of possible life within the hare. The ears are pulled back. This could be for the hare to appear that it may be listening to some sort of noise in the distance. This object appears to have been produced by hand carving, probably somewhere in Japan. The hare is made of Ivory which would most probably have been from an Asian elephant but could also have been made using ivory from another mammalian species. The ivory appears to have been either buffed and polished to give it a high glossy finish or has been coated with a varnish for the same effect. The hare appears to have some small varieties in colour though mostly being a cream colour. It has smaller darker parts with colour appearing brownish around the carved details such as the mouth, nose, ears and front right paw. This was likely caused by the object ageing over the years since its production.
PART 2
Write a short ‘biography’ of this object, addressing the question of how its function, status and meaning may have changed over time.
Introduction
In this short biography I will attempt to discover the journey of the hare netsuke from its production through to its consumption and afterlife. I will research whom has owned this beautiful object and how far it has journeyed around the world in its cycle.
Biography This netsuke would have begun its first
References: cook, r., 2010. Review 2: The Hare with Amber eyes. unknown: the gardian newspaper. Cortazzi, S. H., 2010. Hare with the amber eyes reveiw. s.l.:japansociety.org.uk. Waal, D., 2010. Writing a very personal book. [Online] Available at: http://www.edmunddewaal.com/writing/the-hare-with-amber-eyes/about-the-book/essay/ Bibliography cook, r., 2010 Cortazzi, S. H., 2010. Hare with the amber eyes reveiw. s.l.:japansociety.org.uk. Waal, D., 2010. Writing a very personal book. [Online] Available at: http://www.edmunddewaal.com/writing/the-hare-with-amber-eyes/about-the-book/essay/