A Bronze figurine of a hare, Near East, probably fatimid Egypt, circa 11th century

of typical form, the hollow figurine in a crouched position, with long ears pointed back and circular hole at the mouth, incised short tail, cheeks and ears

In good overall condition, some minor patination due to age and loss to the gilding, as viewed.
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This unsual and rare figurine of a hare is reminiscient of another example that can be found in the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo, of similar proportions (see London 1976, p.166, cat.no.44).  The purpose of bronzes such as these is unclear since the animal is too small to have served as an aquamanile.

The representation of animals and particularly hares is very commonly found in Fatimid art of different media. In Islamic literature the hare is a symbol of good luck, fertility and prosperity. A Fatimid lustre bowl in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin has as a central motif the depiction of a hare similar to our bronze piece (see Paris, 1998, p.177, cat.no.119). Ivory plaques and wood panels often depicted hares as seen on a sculpted ivory plaque in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Ibid, p.139, cat.no.82) and a carved wooden fragment in the Musée du Louvre (see Contadini 1998, p.110, cat.no.34).