Tinners Rabbits Plate

There is something so satisfying about the interlocking ears of tinners rabbits, or the triple hare motifs. This plate is decorated in sgraffito, under-glazed on leather hard clay and then carved into to create the image.  Fired twice and created in stoneware, a real folk art piece completely hand made.

The earliest found images of these hares are in cave temples in China, dated 6th century. One school of thought is the iconic image was thought to have spread along the silk road to somehow end up here in our Sceptered Isles; this early version was thought to have originally symbolized peace and tranquility.

These hares also pop up elsewhere on 13th century mongol metalwork, and on a 12 century copper coin, found in iran, An ancient Islamic-made reliquary from southern Russia. Another 13th or early 14th century box, later used as another reliquary, to name but a few.

The majority of representations of the UK hares occur in churches in England, especially Devon and also in Northern Germany. This supports a contrary view that the three hares occurred independently as an English or early Germanic symbol, symbolizing the Trinity.  I do love the idea that there are symbolic archetypes that come from the human subconscious and evolve independently the same but different from the anima mundi.

Today hares have very much been adopted by the pagan community, encompassing themes of spirit animals and familiars, and as a community they will not be giving them up any time soon!

Please note: because of technical reasons, colours might appear different on your screen. Please also note that our items are hand made and are not "perfect" in every sense. They will bear the marks of the handmade pottery creation process that is missing from mass produced items. 

 28cm diameter