A HAMMERED IRON MODEL OF A HARE

Yamada Sobi is the son of Yamada Munemitsu (?-1908), a ninth-generation armorer, who learned metal-hammering in a Myochin-school studio. He was particularly skilled at the technique of tetsu uchidashi (hammered iron) for producing three-dimensional, sculptural works from a single ingot of iron. He participated in many exhibitions and received thirty-five prizes at national and international expositions, including the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, 1905 Belgium World Exposition and 1909 Seattle World Exposition.
He was under consideration as Artist to the Imperial Household (Teishitsu gigeiin) but he died before the announcement of these designations.