Three Hares Decorative Terracotta Wall Tile

This charming wall tile is based a roof boss in the church of St. Peter and Paul
Wissembourg, France, circa 1300.  It is a lovely and interesting tile for people fascinated by the hare and its legend, and for animal lovers everywhere.

The tile measures 10.5 cm x 10.5 cm and has one hole fixing: between the front of one rabbit's legs and the others hind legs.

These tiles are hand made in Somerset using clay from Stoke-On-Trent.

Three hares share three ears as they chase each other around the design. Hares in this form have recently been found on the roof of a 6th century Buddhist temple in Dunhuang, Central China. On carpets and in other ways the image must have travelled eastwards and westwards along the Silk Road. Archaeologists have traced examples in Syria, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and the Northern Himalayan area. For Christians, the number three in any context became a representation of the Trinity, so the image can be also seen in the form of carvings and roof bosses in many medieval European churches. The symbol was adopted by the Guild of Tinners as their emblem, and it appears carved in several Cornish churches. It is also found in many churches in Devon. 

These frost-resistant decorative pieces can be used as wall decor in many different situations in the home and garden: on a mantel piece or beam, on or over a door, kitchen splash back, in a porch, conservatory, gardens, gate/gate post, built into risers of steps or patio/courtyard wall, just to name a few.