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A105 ASSIGNMENT 1

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A105 ASSIGNMENT 1

PART 1
Using no more than 250 words, write a description of the object depicted in the two photographs.
This object is small at just 3.7 cm in length. There seems to be no information on circumference or height measurements. The shape takes that of a hare, with what appears to be a somewhat oval base. Three of the paws also take shape at the base of the object, with the forth paw raise in the front. The head is of circular shape with a prominent nose and mouth cleverly carved out of a crisscross shape which makes it look classically simple. The hare eyes have been inlaid with amber gem stones that sparkle like fire which gives the appearance of possible life within the hare. The ears are pulled back. This could be for …show more content…

(Cortazzi, 2010) Unbeknownst to the Ephrussi family a maid from their home in Austria named Anna was able to hide the netsuke inside of a feather mattress within the house and preserve all of them until the family was able to return. (cook, 2010) Following the end of the war Elisabeth Ephrussi (daughter of Viktor and the late Emmy) would travel back to Austria to be reunited with the Netsuke. The netsuke would remain in the possession of Elisabeth until inherited by another family member, Elisabeth’s son Ignace Leo Ephrussi whom lived in Japan at the time of inheritance. Ignace was extremely fascinated by the netsuke studying the small object for pleasure. (Cortazzi, 2010) He shared this interest with his nephew Edmund de Waal. Edmund would first see the netsuke in 1991 but would later inherit all of them including the hare. This particular netsuke features in the title of De Waals book The Hare with the Amber Eyes and tells a story of not only the Ephrussi family but the life of this netsuke and the 263 that journeyed with it. This netsuke and the other 263 that were originally purchased with it are still in the possession of Edmund de Waal today. (Waal, 2010) They are displayed in a cabinet in Waal’s home in London, where he still studies them.

Conclusion
Throughout the biography we have learned more on the journey of the amber eyed hare netsuke. Though there are very little details to

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