This sculpture represents the pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus), an unusual marsupial once found across inland Australia. Declared extinct in the 20th century, the species was known for its delicate limbs, pointed snout, and distinctive hoof-like toes—features that set it apart from other bandicoots and small mammals.
Haruka Miyamoto reconstructs this lost animal using layered leather and fabric applied through a meticulous hand-built process. The fur is formed from dozens of narrow leather strips, each cut and positioned to evoke the soft texture and subtle movement of a living creature. The animal’s slender posture, curved tail, and closed eyes lend the piece a quiet presence—neither fully naturalistic nor abstract.
As with all of Miyamoto’s work, the sculpture does not aim to recreate the species with scientific accuracy. Instead, it offers a material interpretation, focusing on texture, form, and the emotional resonance of lost species. The result is a one-of-a-kind object that invites reflection on extinction, memory, and the boundary between the real and the imagined.
Pig-footed Bandicoot – Leather Sculpture by Haruka Miyamoto
Leather, fabric.
Weight: 0.3kg
Size: 7.5cm x 28.5cm x 15cm
