The Hare With Amber Eyes

When Iggie arrived in Tokyo in 1947, the city was devastated by bomb damage. The Japanese were experiencing poverty and a scarcity of resources as the occupying US forces began the process of reconstruction.

At age 42, Iggie bought his first home in Japan. The netsuke were displayed in a vitrine, alongside a handful of paintings from the Palais Ephrussi. During Iggie’s regular parties, he encouraged guests to handle and admire the netsuke, and Japanese friends explained the meaning of some of the carvings. For example, the ivory hare is a lunar hare, central to Japanese folklore, and also a sign of the zodiac. When Iggie moved to his second Japanese home, he incorporated an apartment for his partner, Jiro Sugiyama. The couple met in 1952 and stayed together until Iggie’s death.

Iggie became a collector of Japanese and Chinese art. An expert assessed the netsuke and confirmed that many were fine and valuable examples of the art, identifying many of their makers.