Rabbit Figurines

	Depend on the rabbit foot if you will, but remember, it didn’t work for the rabbit – R.E. Shay When is a rabbit, not a rabbit? When it’s a rodent! Or at least, that’s what people have always thought. But in fact, the rabbit is a member of a very small, select mammalian species know as lagomorphs, which includes the hare, and the pika, also known as the “rock rabbit or “whistling hare”. The pika confuses the whole matter even further, because it has a definite rodent-like appearance, and is comparable in looks to a large hamster. Pika evolved in Asia, where most of the 29 known species still live. But during the Ice Age, some of them traveled over the bridge to North America, where a few varieties can be found today, living in mountainous western regions.

Bashful Rabbit Figurine

Adorable Cement Bunny
8 Inches Long
Beautifully Made

Bunny Garden Figurine

Adorable Bunny Figurine
4.5 x 6 x 5 inches
Made of Cement

Rabbit Figurine - Beasties Jogger Jack

Design by John Raya
Handpainted Resin
7 Inches x 6 Inches

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Rabbit Figurines

But if you really want to “split hares”, there is always the argument about what is a hare, versus what is a rabbit, and are they the same thing? They might look alike, and they’re surely related somewhere along the line, but today they aren’t the same at all, and haven’t really been the same animal for a good 2,000 years.

Xenophon, an Athenian rebel and sometimes historian, wrote a treatise on the breeding and training of hunting dogs circa 400B.C. in which he mentions the “lagos”, and also mentions there are two types of them, although he doesn’t include any distinguishing features. The earliest known reference to a “rabbit”, in Greek a “kuniklos”, was found in the second century B.C. writings of historian Polybius. The term apparently stuck, because in the 11th century A.D. rabbits introduced to Great Britain by the Anglo-Saxons, were known as “coneys”, a corruption of “kuniklos”.

Today, the hare is seen mostly in colder climates, as far north as the Arctic. Rabbits are found in a number of countries that have varying climates, including four seasons. While similar in appearance, the hare is much larger than a rabbit, with longer ears. The single exception, is the Arctic hare, which lives in temperatures so severe, the ears have evolved to be shorter, so that less blood circulating skin is exposed to the weather. Hares will drop their young fully furred with eyes open, on open ground, and then retreat to a nest under grass or bushes. Rabbits are born in a burrow underground, blind and with no fur.

Because they tend to remain exposed, hares’ color will change to white in winter, to give them camouflage. Rabbits may lighten from their summer brown, but they retreat to their burrows where most predators won’t follow.

Their size, fluffiness and big brown eyes, have made the rabbit a central character in many folk tales, children’s stories, movies, and books. Rabbit figurines date back centuries, to early bone carvings that are still recognizable for their ears and shape. Today, rabbits are a favorite garden décor item, available in cement, porcelain, and vinyl molded figures holding a gazing ball, or cavorting amongst the flowers. Equally popular, are the porcelain and pottery rabbit figurines, in miniature groups, or single, hand-painted ornaments as character representations, or wildlife art.

Bunny Bits

The Trix rabbit first appeared on cereal boxes in 1960. The character and the cereal slogan “Trix are for kids”, were the creation of Joe Harris. The big white rabbit pursued various children in commercials, trying to get their bowl of Trix. He was twice allowed to eat the cereal, once in 1976, and once in 1980, following a box top write-in vote.
One of the most popular and enduring of children’s books, is “The Velveteen Rabbit” written by Margery Williams in 1922. The enduring story of how a toy becomes real through a little boy’s love, has captured hearts for generations.
The character of Bugs Bunny is arguably the most recognized cartoon figure in the world. Created in the 1940s, his cartoons have run and re-run on television for over 60 years. He also appeared in 175 shorts, full length movies, and won an Oscar for “Knightly Knight Bugs No.1”