Japanese antique shinto shrine, made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, wonderful details with elaborate staircase and other temple details including miniature baku, fudogs and a dragon, copper roof with nice patina, Edo Period. Size: 28 1/2" high x 22" wide x 27 1/4" deep.

Buddhist shrine containing a sculpture of Shichimen Daimyojin in sitting pose, one leg crossed over the other. She sits on the summit of mount Shichimen, one of her shoes by her side, holding a (golden) jewel in her left hand. In the right hand she hold another object, likely a key that is now missing.
Wood decorated with gold and mineral colors. Gilt metal mandorla behind her head, decorated with flaming jewels...

Small altar ("zushi" in Japanese) made of wood, lacquered in black outside, gilt inside. The locking system as well as the hinges are made of beautifully decorated bronze. The altar contains a gilt wood statue of Buddha sitting cross-legged in meditation posture on an elevated throne backed by an aureola. Japan, 19th century. Total height: 8" (20,5 cm). Flaked lacquer at the base, otherwise very good condition.

Small round zushi consisting of two parts. The outside of both are covered in nashiji lacquer. On the inside of the one part in relief is carved in fine detail the image of Bishamonten holding a trident and a pagoda, subduing two demons. Inside the cover sits Benzaiten playing the biwa.
Bishamon and Benten are two of the seven gods of good fortune (shichifukujin), but they each hold a position in the Buddhist pantheon, as well.
Both images in plain, unpainted camphor wood...

15th Century Japanese and carved wooded with gold gilt Japanese mounted flame. Once used as a flaming back drop to an important Japanese religious statue. Original gold pigment in great condition with undertones of black lacquer.
Custom forged iron stand mounted for home display.

Muromachi period 1336 to 1573 C. 15th Century

Dimensions: Base 9" long X 4" wide 34 1/2" high

Antique Japanese bronze temple bell or bonsho, with a handle of dragon heads called a ryuzu, protrusions called chi chi or nyu to improve resonance of sound, the tsuki-za striking panels, and the mei-bun inscription of the bell's history. Inscription dates the bell to Meiwa 4, 1767, during the Edo period. Commissioned by Ninomiya Juemon, village head and rest of villagers...

Finely cast bronze censer on four linked feet with very elegant flower décor on the body and fretwork on the rim, patinated in a rich brown. Bottom decorated in low relief with repeating, extremely fine fretwork of faces. Seal on bottom: Dai-Nihon Bunsei nen Seimin sei. Japan, Edo period, early 19th century.
H H 2-7/8 x diam. 6 ½ inches.
Excellent condition

Murata Seimin (1761-1837), bronze sculptor active in Edo, well-known for his fine casting of bronze vessels and animals.

A refined and elegant statue of Amida Buddha along with Samantabhadra and Avalokitesvara also known as either the Amida Triad or the Three Sages of the Pureland. The triad became popular during the Kamakura Period around the 12th- 13th centuries and a rich visual culture surrounding the triad emerged. Age: Edo Period Size: length: 21.5" width: 13" height" 37.5"

Exquisite pair of lacquered wood temple lotus offering stands in lotus motif. The Lotus is the penultimate buddhist symbal of purity. The base is a lotus with lotus flowers on the stem and lotus cup at the top. Minor lacquer wear but in fabulous condition for its Meiji Period C.1890 age. 12" tall and 6" wide.

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...

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...

A large antique Japanese Buddhist altar table decorated with black and gold lacquer on wood. Divided into three visual sections, each one held a Buddhist item such as a Sutra, an incense burner, a temple bell, a Mokugyo, etc. Inscription on the back appears to read "Dedicated by Tokuto Eizo."

Antique Japanese gracefully curling tall lotus leaf. Made to be part of a Buddhist altar arrangement. The lotus represents enlightenment blooming from out of the mud. Carved of wood and lacquered gold. Fitted with a custom metal stand.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 27 1/2" high (including stand)

An antique Japanese zushi (small Buddhist shrine) with Fudo Myo-o and attendants. One of the five myo-o or Lords of Light, Fudo Myo-o sits with sword in hand, the flames of his nimbus swirling around him. Fudo's name means "the unmovable or unshakable one". He is a fierce deity who guards the Law of Buddhism from the forces of evil.
Carved of wood, colorfully painted and with gold and black lacquer.

Age: Edo Period (c...

Small shrine with double hinged doors. Inside three sculptures of a female in dancing pose, holding an open fan and two males, sitting in front of the female. The old man at the left hand side holds bells in his right hand, in his left he held something that is missing today. The man on the right hand side held something in his right hand, now missing. Judging the faces they could be Daikoku, Ebisu and Benten. Three figures elaborately carved in plain wood, their bases decorated in color...

During the Kamakura period in Japan (1185-1333), a remarkable form of Buddhist sculpture known as the votive Buddha emerged. Commonly referred to as kakebotoke (hanging Buddhas), pieces like this would have been mounted on spherical plaques made of bronze or copper and hung in a Buddhist temple or possibly even in a Shinto shrine. These small-scale sculptures were created to serve as objects of devotion and were often commissioned by wealthy individuals or temples...

Antique Japanese Buddhist Diamond Realm Mandala thangka painting (Kongokai Mandara). In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Diamond Realm (vajradhatu kongokai) is a metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Wisdom Buddhas. The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist sutra called Vajrasekhara Sutra. Shuji Mandala of the Two Worlds, Vajradhatu Mandala does not directly express the forms of the buddhas but expresses them in Sanskrit character (Siddham) called Shuji seed letter. This mandala ...

Very small portable shrine, zushi. The figure of Amida Nyorai is standing on a lotus base with intricately carved curled lotus petals. His slender body covered in a finely, gold ornamented garment, his left hand pointing down in mudra, his now missing right hand would be held up in mudra, as well.

Soft wood stained dark brown, with gold painted decoration and some red.
The insides of the doors decorated in reddish brown with meandering flowers over gold foil on black lacquer.

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