Posted 4 years ago
kwqd
(1189 items)
This Japanese faux bronze cast iron rabbit okimono is about 6" long x 3.5" high x about 6" wide due to his big, floppy ears. It weighs a bit over 3 lbs and has a "JAPAN" label with a Mt. Fuji theme. Guessing this was made 1921-1941, based on the label. There is some finish loss on the ears but it is in surprisingly nice condition, otherwise. The casting is not perfect and I think the maker missed a bet by not doing a little hand work to define the nose and mouth. The label offers some hope of identifying the maker, which is currently unknown.
I was just browsing metal things labeled "Japan" on an online action site and reflexively made an offer 20% lower than the asking price when I saw the label and the seller accepted it. jscott0363 has explained the use of faux bronze on cast iron during the early 1900s and I suspect this fits in that category. I was very attracted to the rabbit, too, as I do not have a Japanese metal rabbit, yet, and this one is a corker. A very important indistinct "JAPAN" was part of the mold under the left paw of Mr. Wabbit, smaller and much less readable than a similar mark on one of jscott0363's hares.
Nice one and with it's original Japan label!! I love the Japanese hares and have several in my collection, but none with the original Japan label.
Thanks jscott0363! Very fortunate that the label has survived. Guessing it has not had many owners in the last 100 years..
Thanks dav2no1 and jscott0363!
Thanks for taking the rabbit test valentino97, nutsabotas6, PhilDMorris, Thomas, Hoot60, Watchsearcher, Kevin, Jenni and fortapache!
love it!
Thanks for your comment KinkiPlz! Me too!
Thanks for your comments Eileen! I was very pleasantly surprised by the seller's generosity, for sure. I did not realize how old it probably is, so kudos to jscott0363 for his great research. It was a lucky find for me.
Thanks for loving my Japanese hare Eileen, KinkiPlz, aura and ho2cultcha!
Thank you Manikin and Vynil33rpm!
Thanks vcal and GianaMZ!
Thanks, ho2cultcha!