Incense holder in the shape of Rabbits

What we would like to introduce this time is a cute nail cover with two rabbits made into an incense holder.

This is one of a number of items given to me by a collector who loves rabbits.

The round eyes, limbs, and even each strand of fur have been carefully and meticulously crafted with a chisel, making this a very well-made nail cover.
Her plump and three-dimensional body is also attractive.

It is likely that some connoisseur at some point in time transformed it into an incense holder.

A common design seen on rabbit nail covers is called "makkou usagi," which depicts a rabbit viewed from the front.
In the past, it has also been sold on the Otsuka Art web store.
▶ Click here for the Mamuka Usagi nail cover

This design features two rabbits stacked on top of each other, and is called "Married Rabbits."
This design is not often seen on the market, and there are not as many of them left as there are of the Mamuka Usagi.

The same type of nail cover is used at Hinojuku Honjin, known as the only Honjin building in Tokyo.
▶ For more information about Hinojuku Honjin, click here

Rabbits are sacred and auspicious animals, and have been used as designs in many crafts in the East since ancient times as symbols of prosperity and fertility.
In addition to the functionality of hiding nail heads, rabbit nail covers also have the meaning of talismans that protect against fire, and have been incorporated into many Japanese homes and temples.

Metalwork, which had previously been limited to a privileged class, began to become common during the Edo period.
As city dwellers gained economic power, they began to use metalwork to add style to their everyday items.

In this way, craftsmen competed with each other to create stationery such as water droppers and arrow holders, as well as tobacco pipes and iron kettles.

This nail cover was also created against this background.
The careful construction of this piece leads one to imagine that a wealthy village headman with refined tastes commissioned it from a highly skilled craftsman.

This is a unique incense holder that reflects the good taste of its previous owner.
It can also be used as a small item holder.

Please see other rabbit collections from the link below.

▶ Click here for the Long-eared rabbit writing rack

▶ Click here for Old bronze water dropper in the shape of a rabbit

▶ Click here for Old bronze water dropper in the shape of a rabbit

[Responsible for | Megu Fukaya]