Japanese antique 4 section butsudan (Buddhist shrine for household use). The exterior is lacquered all black with double cabinet doors to the shrine area. The interior of the butsudan is lacquered gold and black and has ornate carved details of phoenixes and a dragon just below the shrine roof area. Details of birds and waves are carved in the area below. The interior shrine compartment has a slide out tray as well as a small compartment with gold lacquer sliding panels...

Antique Japanese Bronze Temple Bell (Bonsho). Inscribed on body with name of location, temple and date...

The deity Shomen Kongo standing on a demon in front of a flaming halo. In front of him a rooster and a chicken and a monkey with a gohei. Ink and colors on paper. Painted area 25 x 11 inches. Several horizontal creases due to rolling, several small missing areas, all backed and partly retouched. New mounting in Chinese style. Overall stable condition.

Feel free to ask for additional photos.

Beautifully aged Antique Japanese Zushi (portable shrine) black lacquered wood with mokko shaped roof. Shrine models a gilt interior with the statue of sitting Buddha. The double doors decorated with crests of the Samurai Clan, Hosogawa in gilt metal work.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 7.5"h x 4.25"d x 6"w

Antique Japanese bronze vajra, an important symbol in Vajrayana Buddhism, Hinduism, and Tantra religions. The name vajra means both thunderbolt and diamond, as it is a symbol of brute strength and indestructibility. Its center piece represents the center of the universe with lotus pods blooming outwards to extend the five pronged weapons. The five prongs represent the "Five Poisons" which prevent humanity from reaching enlightenment...

Japanese antique large Buddhist shinto shrine, made of hinoki wood. Constructed like a life size shrine complete with slanting copper roof. A small stair case leads to a pair of doors. The railing has copper post tops. The underside of the roof is made of many beams and columns, some with corbels carved in the form of fudogs and baku. Beautiful age and patina...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese temple boxwood seal of round section with original boxwood cover. Excellent quality crisp carving in seal script, old red seal paste in the grooves. Plastic peg indicates the position of the top of the imprint. Beautiful patina on the surface of wood, signs of use adding to the presence of the object. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 4 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will print on paper)...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese temple boxwood seal of square section. Excellent quality crisp carving in seal script, old red seal paste in the grooves. Metal stud on the side indicates the position of the top of the imprint. Beautiful patina on the surface of wood. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Height 2.4 inches, base 0.93 inches square.

An incredible and massive Japanese Buddhist Temple Ranma (transom) carving of a crouching Shishi (Fu Dog) under an overhanging pine tree flanked on both sides by exaggerated Peonies. Beautifully hand carved with great detail. The pine tree represents longevity while the large Peonies symbolize an abundance of wealth. The frame and carving both are made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Very good original condition...

Large Japanese antique processional temple cart, base made of keyaki (elm) wood with copper hardware, drum is also made of keyaki wood with a large brass rooster on top, wonderful condition (wheels roll!), lovely carving and lacquer detail, unusual and striking! Meiji/ Taisho Period (early 20th century). Size: 90" high x 69" long x 42 1/2" deep.

Rather unusual late 18th to early 19th century Japanese bronze temple decoration fixture of a tennin - a female buddhist angel - as it flies playing a Shu - Japanese musical instrument from a flute group used in Shinto ceremony and consisting of bamboo reeds forming a circular wind chamber. Wonderful design, beautiful flow of her billowing scarves, gilded highlights, great patina. Very well cast, pleasantly heavy, peg on the back for fixing it to a temple or pedestal wall. Length 6 inches.

Antique Japanese standing figure of Bishamonten, chief of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitenno) and protectors of Buddhism. He is the distributor of treasures and wealth, protector of warriors, healer of illnesses and guardian of the north. Dressed for war, he stands on the back of an evil spirit. He holds a Buddhist staff in his right hand and a small pagoda representing the divine treasure house in his left hand. Made of lacquered and gilded wood...

Japanese 18th century Edo age seated Dainichi-nyorei Buddha. Lacquered and gilded wood. Hands carved beautifully.
(stand and screen are not included)

Edo Period C. 1700's

height 20.5" width 13" length 16.5"

Late Meiji Period C.1900 gold lacquer on zelkova wood mirror stand. Used in the inner chamber of altar shrine to reflect the void. Bronze mirror has plum blossoms and pine leafs in relief. Very good condition. (see pics). 11" tall by 7" wide. Ask for shipping quote.

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...

Part of a triptych with depiction of the Five Great Myoo. At the top is Kongo Yasha Myoo, standing on two lotus bases, at the bottom Gozanse Myoo, being held by an acolyte. Black ink and color on silk, background gold. Beautiful painting, expensively painted.
Painted area: 39 x 15 ¼ inches; frame: 47 ¼ x 21 in.
Good condition, framed ( rollers cut off, old mounting behind mat).

A small Pure Land Buddhist shrine -zushi- containing a figure of the 11-headed Kannon on a lotus, holding a flask in his left hand, standing before a full-size mandorla.
Painted in mineral colors and gold onto the gilded doors are Jizo bosatsu to his right and Kokuzo bosatsu to his left.

Carved wood (probably boxwood), decorated with gold. Jewelry gilded metal (now black).
Red lacquered shrine with fine gilded hardware. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Case: ca. 5.1...

A protective deity is carved into this Piece of a pillar from Himeji Castle dating from the Meiji period restoration of the Tenshukaku (main tower). It is branded with the Yaki-in which reads Himeji Jo Ko-zai-in (Brand of the old wood from Himeji Castle). It has long been a method of raising funds in Japan to offer replaced pieces of a historical building to those who donate to the restoration. These pieces are commonly branded with a special seal, called a yaki-in, which is heated and burnt ...