Passed
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Description
5" (13 cm.) Goten-gangu (Palace Toys) of a pair of rabbits, crafted of papier mache covered in a white gofun with painted red eyes, nose, whisker and toe details, backs with raised design of leafed chrysanthemums done in blue/green and gold, long felt ears, Meiji Era, Late 19th century. Named "palace toys" in honor of their close connection as amusements for the imperial aristocracy, goten-gangu were popular across many social strata, serving as accessories to ningyo as well as desirable objects in their own right. Rabbits were popular symbols of luck and perseverance. The white hare is believed to inhabit the moon, with the West's "man in the moon" replaced by Asia's "rabbit pounding mochi rice cakes" and thus the white rabbit is closely connected with Tsukimi moon-viewing parties.