1970s Ooak Wood Sea Turtle/Rabbit/Emerald/Lapis Box

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I imagined bringing the rabbit together with the tortoise. Since the rabbit wasn't a swimmer it was my intention for … Read more I imagined bringing the rabbit together with the tortoise. Since the rabbit wasn't a swimmer it was my intention for them to be friends. Ha! Then I discovered a Little Netsuke with what I had imagined...Rabbit on the tortoise's back. I thought there must be more to the story...
Sugungga is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori storytelling tradition.
The story begins in a fictional kingdom in the Southern Sea ruled by a Dragon King who suffers from an illness that can only be cured by consuming the liver of a rabbit. In hopes of finding the liver to cure his disease, the dragon king commands his servants to go onto land, find a rabbit, and bring its liver back to the kingdom. Out of the servants, a turtle volunteers to perform this act, showing his loyalty to the king.
The turtle succeeds in finding a rabbit. In order to get the rabbit to follow it back to the underwater kingdom, the turtle lures the rabbit by telling him that a wonderous and luxurious life awaits it there. The rabbit falls for it, boards his back and follows the turtle underwater, and soon finds itself captured in the dragon king's palace. The rabbit soon realizes that it had been tricked and will be soon slaughtered for its liver. Right before slaughtering, however, the rabbit tells the dragon king that its liver is so much in demand that someone may steal it away from the king as soon as he kills it and that because of this, it had to be slaughtered somewhere away from everyone. The dragon king listens to the rabbit and commands the turtle to kill it away from the kingdom. Upon getting far enough from the kingdom back on land, the rabbit jumps off the turtle's back and runs away, tricking the turtle and the dragon king.
The story ends with the rabbit ridiculing the king and the turtle once again, but admiring his loyalty to the king nonetheless.
So there's that:)! I also like my story where the 2 are friends.The sea turtle helps out a brother in need, for he's not a very good swimmer. And safely helps the rabbit back to land by carrying him over and through the water. Either way I love the imagery of the two of them together. And of course we love turtles and rabbits too.
The turtle box is set with black mother of pearl inside the box as a diamond shape and a heart, as well as the eyes. I carved into the rabbit's head and set a natural rose cut Emerald. Emeralds have been known to represent Intelligence.
Ancient rulers and scholars believed the gem improved intelligence, inner truth, and clear speaking. Ancient Greeks linked emeralds to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Today, the stone symbolizes true love, patience, and strong relationships.
I carved into the eye sockets and set rose cut Lapis Lazuli gemstones.
Known as the "wisdom stone," it represents deep self-knowledge, honesty, and mental clarity. Known historically for wisdom, deep insight, and good judgment, making it ideal for navigating tough decisions.
The rabbit I attached to the turtle's back by sanding down its feet in slopes and wedged the bottom of the rabbit to small wood slats that I attached to the back of turtle. The clever little rabbit is also a small trinket box as well. The turtle's shell opens up to another secret place.
Turtle is 11.25 inches long. Both, turtle box and rabbit box are vintage pieces in excellent condition with some slight age related wear. Both have a warm vintage look and feel. I will be listing 2 more turtle and rabbit boxes coming soon, one natural stone and the other wood which is a smaller than this one. Like you, they are one of a kind Art Boxes. See less