Pair of bronze rabbits running, their legs forming a round shape.
Made by Hiroharu Hiramatsu (1896 Hyôgo prefecture – 1971, Fukushima, 平松宏春 ).
Specialized in metal art, he is a councilor of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. He studied with
Katsura Mitsuharu (1871-1962), one of the great metallurgists of the modern era. Selected for
the first time at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1934, he has been presenting his work every
year, and since then he has been presenting as one of the leading artists in the craft division
after the war. On several occasions, he has served as a judge of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
and the Osaka Prefectural and City Exhibition. Some of his works has been purchased by the
Imperial Household Agency and was a gift to Their Majesties Emperor Hirohito and Empress
Nagako, Crown Prince Akihito and Prince Masahito of Hitachi. Hiroharu is also a member of
the Association of Contemporary Craft Artists and a professor at Osaka University of Art. He
was awarded the Osaka Prefectural Art Prize and he was made an honorary citizen of Ikeda
city.
Signed on the back of the large rabbit « made by Hiroharu » (宏春作).
Hiroharu Hiramatsu 平松宏春 (1896-1971) – Japon, Osaka prefecture – Showa era (1926-1989)
Large rabbit : height 4.7 in (12 cm) – width 2.3 in (6 cm) – depth 5.9 in (15 cm)
Small rabbit: height 2 in (5.5 cm) – width 1.2 in (3.3 cm) – depth: 2.4 in (6.5 cm)