Rabbit 1825 - 1875

Curator: How charming! This is a wood carving of a rabbit, currently residing here at the Met. It’s estimated to have been created sometime between 1825 and 1875 by Mitsuhiro Ohara. Editor: My first thought? Serenity. The creature seems utterly at peace, almost as if it’s listening intently to something we can’t hear. It’s compact and feels…contained. Curator: Indeed. The rabbit, across cultures, holds significant symbolic weight. It can signify prosperity, luck, cleverness and fertility, of course. Here in Japan, rabbits are associated with the moon, longevity, and even self-sacrifice in some Buddhist Jataka tales. Editor: Interesting, that tension. Self-sacrifice countered with prosperity. It makes me consider how this small carving, likely intended as a netsuke—a toggle to secure small personal items hung from a kimono sash—navigates socio-political pressures. Were these figures merely decorative, or were they also subtle expressions within a rigid social structure? Curator: A fine point! These were more than just decorative items; they reflected social standing and aesthetic sensibilities within a specific cultural moment. Consider also how the choice of subject reflects a connection to nature, a prevalent theme in Japanese art during this period. Editor: Absolutely. And the materiality of the wood contributes too, doesn’t it? The smooth, tactile surface encourages interaction, a private dialogue between the owner and the object. Curator: I agree entirely. There’s a haptic quality that bridges time. When viewing such a skillfully executed, seemingly simple form, it is useful to ponder its layers of significance that reverberate through social, artistic and spiritual realms. Editor: So much history contained within such a small, seemingly quiet object. I am more intrigued now.