The three hares motif is made up of three hares with conjoined ears who are seen in profile — usually running or leaping — and are arranged in a circle or triangle. Each hare appears to have two ears, but they are shared with the hare on either side, resulting in only three ears in the design, forming a triangle. For centuries, this design has been used in art and architecture in places like the Far East and Europe. Although its meaning and origin are unknown, it is commonly found in sacred art and architecture. Artists from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Islamic cultures have all used this motif.
The Motif’s Origins
Although the three hares motif appears on more than two dozen roof bosses — stone or wooden bas reliefs — in local churches, the majority are found in southeast England, particularly Devon, where they appear on more than two dozen roof bosses — stone or wooden bas reliefs. The design is known as “tinners’ rabbits” in Devon, possibly because it was adopted as a trademark local tin miners. The abundance of the design in medieval churches in the area may be due to the fact that tin miners regularly funded church repair and construction in the Middle Ages. The three hares design can also be found in the plaster ceilings of some private homes in Devon from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The most well-known examples of the three hares design, outside of England, can be found in northern Germany and France. However, the oldest known example comes from Dunhuang, China. These two facts have led to two different theories about the motif’s origin: it could be an ancient German or English symbol, which would explain the large number of these designs in those countries, or it could have traveled to western Europe via trade routes from the East.
Where Does the Motif Show Up?
The three hares motif appears in stained glass windows, floor tiles, paintings, and carvings in European churches, as well as on a bell in a German abbey, in addition to roof bosses. The earliest examples in China can be found on Buddhist cave temple ceilings from the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD). Glass, ceramic, and metal works are examples of medieval examples of the three hares motif in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. A 13th century Iranian coin and an elaborate Islamic reliquary casket from southern Russia are two notable pieces.
Possible Interpretations
The three hares design’s beauty and mystery have continued to inspire artwork well into the twenty-first century. Hares and the number three have ancient mystical significance, despite the fact that its exact meaning is unknown. Hares have long been associated with feminine and lunar energy. They were also thought to be hermaphroditic and capable of virgin birth in ancient times, so Christians may have associated the design with Jesus’ birth.