Saturday, April 11, 2020

The Three Hares AKA Tinners Hares/Rabbits



Happy Easter!
It has been close to two years since my last blog post. I just wanted to share one of my favorite historical and mystical images with you known as... The Three Hares. Sometimes called Tinners Hares/Rabbits. 

It truly has a fascinating history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_hares I will leave the historical telling of it to those who have made a great effort to research it. https://hyperallergic.com/311482/the-mystery-of-the-three-hares-motif/ One of the earliest examples of the image is from the year 581 found in Buddhist cave in China. 


Many years ago I sent photos of it to Linda Master http://miraclechicken.blogspot.com/ asking her if she would be interested in carving it in miniature. We brain stormed it, thinking of how many ways it might be used in 1: 12 scale. I thought of pargeting it to the exterior of a cottage, she had several ideas of her own. There are as many uses in miniature as there ever have been in real life throughout the centuries. I can see it on garden walls, painted on porcelain tiles, sculpted terracotta tile, the list is endless but Linda's specialty is carving wood.

Recently we started talking about the image again. This week I received a 1:12 scale piece from her of it. It is 44 millimeters in diameter a little over an inch and a half.  I wanted it to look like it was  old, possibly an architectural salvage of some sort.  I couldn't have been more pleased with her rendition. She did an absolutely beautiful job. It was carved out of a special piece of pear she had been saving.

How I will use it remains to be seen. It needs just the right setting. I think it will fit in perfectly with the other things I have collected. The Three Hares would make a great name for a tea shop.


Mean time.... I am embroidering the hares it on a denim shirt, using a needle painting technique. I think 3 inches diameter is a good size for over the left breast pocket. What have you found to do while spending so much time at home during this quarantine? 

16 comments:

  1. Your collaboration with Linda has been Exquisitely realized, and I think that as a logo for a tea shop with this tiny relief as inspiration, is a Terrific idea; and I hope you'll pursue it!
    And may I also say Welcome Back Catherine.
    Two years IS a long time and we've been missing YOU, as much as you've been missing Kilmouski. ❤️

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Easter Elizabeth. Thank you!
      I couldn't resist coming in to thank Linda for such a beautiful gift.

      Delete
  2. I'm glad to see you back with such a beautiful miniature. I'm sure you'll find a good use for it.
    Happy Easter to you too!
    Geneviève

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Geneviève for taking your time to comment. It is nice to see you.

      Delete
  3. Dear Catherine - What an exquisite and finely crafted piece of work Linda has been able to achieve, you must be thrilled.
    Three hares sharing three ears, yet each one of them having a pair of ears, is one of my favourite mystical images too. I love it for its simplicity and effectiveness.
    Apparently there are 17 churches in Devon alone with this symbol. For a long time I have been intending to find them, but have never got around to doing so....maybe once lockdown is finally over it is something that I could pursue!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rosemary, I knew you would know all about The Three Hares. I have read that Devon has many images of them. I would love to go there and see those churches. I will look forward to the day you post about it. XXX

    ReplyDelete
  5. The carving is exquisite! The history is intriguing. It's wonderful to see a post from you again! I hope you make a tea shop... now that you've named it! I would love to sip some dargeeling from some of your beautiful china collection with a needlepoint cushion at my back! (In mini of course!)
    Stay well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Betsy, So nice to see you. Thank you!
    It would be great fun to make a small tea room, even a pub with the same name. I always wanted to make a pub with Colin Birds chairs and tables. Sadly he has retired now.
    Take care. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for your sweet words and this post! So good to see you here. I loved making this piece and I really love the idea for the tea shop. I think it is perfect as will be your rendition should you pursue it😊👍❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is begging to be part of a tea room. Thank you Linda! XXX

      Delete
  8. whaouuuu ! cela est une réalisation magnifique . cela ne m 'étonne pas venant d'une artiste comme Linda .
    je ne connaissais pas ce symbole . il est magnifique .
    j 'espere que vous allez faire une chose merveilleuse avec .
    j' ai hate de voir ce que vous allez faire . un salon de thé ? ceci est une trés bonne idée ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. je ne veux pas écrire le mot " haine " mais je n 'arrive pas à le corriger . je suis vraiment désolée .

      Delete
    2. Bonjour Catherine Ravie de vous voir! Merci d'avoir pris le temps de laisser un commentaire. Les Trois Lièvres est une image très intéressante. Si vous le google en anglais, vous trouverez de nombreux exemples. Beaucoup d'entre eux en France. Vous trouvez ces images tout au long de la route de la soie en provenance de Chine. Je n'ai jamais trouvé le mot "Hate/Haine" dans la traduction. Pas de soucis. XXX

      Delete
    3. c'est le mot "hâte " en français que mon ordi transforme et traduit en " haine "si j 'oublie l 'accent !!!
      J 'ai hâte de voir le projet que vous ferez avec ces magnifiques lapins .

      Delete
  9. Precioso el trabajo de Linda.Será un bonito logotipo para cualquier escena que montes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Isabel, ¡Gracias! Amo el trabajo de Linda. Ella me ha hecho tantas miniaturas hermosas.

    ReplyDelete