Year of the Rabbit Woodblock Print Animal by Shin Kogei

These are woodblock print rabbits from the series of animals made by Shin Kogei of Hida-Takayama in Gifu

They are presented in time for 2023, the year of the rabbit.  The floral design on their body features Japanese rowan, epigaea asiatica and rabbit chrysanthemums.

Shin Kogei were founded in Hida-Takayama in the snowy north of Gifu prefecture by a local artist, and their shop is a location to visit within the town. Hida-Takayama was an important castle settlement in the Middle Ages, and today has a fine tradition for wood craft.

Shin Kogei use wood to make their printing blocks. Designs principally of animals that can be seen in Hida-Takayama, and are transferred to the woodblocks, before being hand dyed onto natural cotton. Each colour designates a different block used, showing the time spent on each. The animals are filled with natural casks and hand sewn.

The larger rabbit is 11cm wide, and 4cm high, the smaller 'baby' one is 8.5 cm x 4.5cm.