An antique Japanese Wood Buddhist altar fitting known as a keman. The hand fan like shape were thought to have originated from flower garland offerings seen in India. The keman is decorated with motifs of lotuses with two apsaras. The top of the keman has the crest of the Tokugawa family. Age: Edo Period 17/18th century, Size: Length 25" Height 9.5" Width 1.5"

Zushi with beautiful hardware on the front; inside the figure of Yakushi Nyorai (medicine Buddha), sitting on a high lotus throne, holding the medicine jar in his left hand and with his right hand making the gesture of picking medical herbs. He is surrounded by 16 rakan, painted onto the inside of the doors (not decals). On the mardorla behind his head two apsara are painted, playing the sho and the flute. High quality carving. Wood decorated in mineral colors and gold...

Sculpture of Shomen Kongo, standing with 6 arms, holding ghanta and sword, bow and arrow, halberd and chakra. Shomen Kongo protects against demons and diseases. Wood stained black, with metal parts. Japan, Edo period, shortly after 1800.
H ca. 11 inches.
Sword missing, few traces of usage. All in all very good condition.

Small shrine holding the image of the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai, sitting on a lotus base, before a circular mandorla. Doors decorated on the inside with an exquisitely painted motif of star-shaped flowers. Wood decorated in mineral colors and gold. Very high quality. Thin metal for mandorla and crown. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
H of case ca. 5 inches.
Most of the crown missing, some traces of usage but all in all in excellent condition.

Small shrine containing the figure of the sitting 11 headed Kannon, holding a flask in his left hand, his head crowned with the 10 heads of the different Buddhist deities, including Amida. He is sitting on a lotus throne that holds inside the figure of a reclining lion. The back of the zushi has a small moveable segment (now glued shut) that is supposed to reveal something in the base of the Kannon...

Small shrine with a wooden sculpture of Jizo, standing with a jewel in one hand (which are missing), his staff (which is missing) in the other. Here he is represented as Danda Jizo, assisting those who are suffering in hell and saving small children from the wheel of rebirth. The paintings on the doors show naked children chased by demons in hell. Polychromed wood with delicate details. Metal madorla. Japan, late Edo period, around 1800.
Height zushi: ca...

Museum piece with extraordinary history. This altar table was one of 4 pieces we acquired at auction from the private residence of the 14th and final Daimyo (Lord)of the Tokushima Han (clan) Hachisuka Mochiaki of Awa Province on Shikoku Island in central Japan in the Edo Period. He lived 1846-1918...

Museum piece bronze temple lantern dated Bunsei 13 ( Edo Period C. 1830). Inscription on the base reads: Bunsei 13, Year of the tiger, November, Auspicious Day. Gosho - machi ( Gosho village) Shoei-Ji (Shoei Temple). Shoei Temple is a Jodo -shu temple in Nara established in C.1100. It was rebuilt in C.1577. The lantern is bronze with a chrysanthemum motif and lined with old rice paper. In unbelievably great condition. H: 76cm x diameter: 28cm. Ask for shipping quote.

Edo Period Portable Wood Buddhist Shrine with Exquisite Carving. 17h x 12w inches, 43h x 30.5w cm. In Buddhism, portable shrines were made so that devout travelers with nowhere to worship could carry their shrines with them. The shrines were made with closing doors, to preserve the artwork. This shrine features exquisitely carved deities and finely lacquered details.

Hand shrine, or zushi, of the triptych type. Inside, in the middle section sits Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, flanked by Seishi and Kannon bosatsu. Inside the left panel, and inside the right panel tennin (apsara) flying over a lotus pond. Image of Western Paradise.
Sandal wood...

Hand shrine, or zushi, in the shape of a lotus bud, carved in two halves. On the inside, on one side the standing figure of Amida Nyorai on a lotus base, his hands in mudra. The other half of the lotus bud is decorated with a mutsume pattern (imitating a triaxial weaving) in kirikane (very thin strips of gold foil). Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
Very light, soft wood. On the outside red lacquer, covered with leaf gold, that is partly rubbed off again...

Exceptional carving of Kannon Bosastu or Bodhisattva the goddess of compassion and mercy. She holds a lotus in her left hand symbolizing purity and ability to rise from the mud to transform into a beautiful flower. She stands on a stand of lotus pedals with large lotus leaves. To the side are buddhist clouds. Painted in the Edo Period c. 1860, some of the colors have worn away and the right foot is chipped off. Hinoki wood. Comes in paulownia wood box. Ask for shipping quote. H:19cm x W:28cm

Exceptional Late Edo Period C.1860 zen buddhist traveling altar usually carried by samurai. In a small wooden 'zushi' or wood altar with hinged doors, inside is Fudo-Myo, the immovable king carved out of wood sitting on a carved stand of lotus flowers. He symbolizes compassion with firmness. He holds a sword and he has the power to crush all obstacles and troubles. Ask for shipping quote. H:11cm x W:8cm

Wonderful Japanese cypress wood carving of Amida Buddha from the Edo Period c. 1860. The halo is delicately carved and remarkably intact. The serene expression of the face is of tranquil bliss. The stand is surrounded by lotus petals. The left hand has some finger damage. Ask for shipping quote. H:14" x W:7".

Pair of rare negoro lacquered, wood Edo Period C.1860 zen buddhist temple altar candlestands. Fabulous buddhist cloud carvings in gold gilt at the base. Wood is Japanese cypress. H:23" x W:12". Great condition. One candlestand has a split at the top. (see picture). Ask for shipping quote.

Late Taisho Period C.1915 buddhist temple bronze altar lanterns with intricate zen cloud patterns and lattice work. The bronze work is immaculate and the cratsmanship without flaw; typical Taisho Period work. The oiled rice paper lining the inside of the main body is gone but the condition of the pieces is excellent. H:23cm x W:13cm. Ask for shipping quote.

Small flat Buddhist shrine, constructed as a triptych. When open, the middle section houses Amida Nyorai in raised carving, sitting on a lotus throne under a baldachin and surrounded by clouds. On the left panel Seishi bosatsu with his hands folded in prayer, on the right panel Kannon bosatsu with the lotus in his hands. Both bodhisattva surrounded by clouds as well. Sandalwood with details of garment and baldachin in gold. Background in lapis blue...

Japanese four prong Vajra or diamond thunderbolt form Chisakuin Temple, bronze with worn gilt, Edo age (over 200 years old). Very powerful ritual tool representing firmness of spirit and spiritual power. Worn gilt on one side, all over relief, double sided with lotus flower in center, trident prongs emerging from the four cardinal directions. Size: 6 1/8" long