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All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1429917 (stock #10829)
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$1,100.00
Wooden nyoi (ruyi in Chinese) scepter, an implement used by Buddhist priests during a ceremony or during formal preaching. Carved naturalistically in the shape of a lotus bud on a long stem with a lotus leaf wrapped around the stem. Rose wood or sandal wood. Made in two pieces.
Japan, 19th century.

Length 13-1/8 inches

Tiny chip at leaf edge. Fine condition.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1837 VR item #1453243 (stock #11043)
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Buddhist shrine containing the deity Uga Benzaiten surrounded by Fifteen Children (Jugodoji), all sitting and standing on a rock formation. In the foreground are the ox and the horse, a boat laden with rice bales and the snake god Ugajin. Hidden between the jugodoji is the tiny figure of Amida Buddha.

In this shrine Benten appears in her eight-armed martial form holding various weapons (wheel, bow, spear, sword, club, lock, and arrow) and the wish granting jewel (all of them missing). On her head she carries the snake-bodied Ugajin, old god of fertility and nourishment. Around her are 15 Children or Disciples or Attendants (jugodoji), each carrying specific attributes that are essential for Benten/Ugajin to gain satisfaction and success.

Group inside: Wood stained black. Some remnants of colors on Benten’s face, gilt metal attributes (what’s left of them) and jewelry to Benten. The rock formation was carved by a different carver than the figures. The placement of the Amida Nyorai was a personal choice of the donor. There is no obvious relation between Amida and the Benzaiten group.

The zushi (case) is lacquered black over wood.

Japan, Edo period, late 18th century

Case: H 15 x W 14 x D 11 in.

Condition: Case has substantial water damage due to exposure to humidity in a temple, replacements in the bottom. Inside: Several hands missing, faces rubbed, various attributes missing, repairs on various limbs and garments, item on the boat missing, chips.

In stable condition.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1482784 (stock #10554)
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$800.00
The metal head of the rattle – called shakujo – with some simply engraved decoration on the central shaft indicating lotus petals. The central ring has the shape of an inverted heart, from which six rings loop, three on each side.
The six rings symbolize the Six Realms of Existence where Jizō is active and the Six Perfections that lead to nirvana: generosity, morality, patience, vigor, concentration, and wisdom.
Mounted on a short wooden pole, covered with red lacquer.

Cast sentoku. Japan, 19th century.
H including pole ca. 10" (25.2 cm);
H metal head only ca. 4.75" (12.3 cm).

Minimal corrosion on head, otherwise very good condition. Comes with a custom-made metal base.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1492 item #1301119 (stock #10793)
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Beautiful thick bronze hollow votive figure in the shape of Dainichi Nyorai sitting on a lotus base, former part of a kakebotoke. His head gear finely engraved with floral motives. Bronze with dark brown patina and traces of gilding. Kamakura period, 14th century.

Mounted on Japanese, old kiri-wood stand

H 4 ¼ inches

Excellent condition

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1450459 (stock #10647)
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$2,500.00
Very rare bronze sculpture of Daiitoku, one of the five Myoo. He is represented with six heads (three large, three small), six legs and six arms that are holding the different attributes, while he is sitting on the back of a reclining long-horned buffalo. Here, Daiitoku holds his main hands clasped together. In the others he holds a staff, chakra, sword and trident. A flaming mandorla has been inserted in the back of the buffalo and is held in place by a metal strip on the back of Daiitoku . Brown bronze with green corrosion.

Japan, Meiji era, late 19th century.
Measurements: ca. H 12.25 x L 9 x W 7 inches (ca. 31.75 x 22.8 x 17.75 cm).

Tips of the upper flame bunch on the mandorla are bit bent and partially broken off, otherwise excellent condition.

Daiitoku (Sanskrit Yamantaka) is an emanation of Amida Buddha; he is positioned in the West; the white buffalo is a symbol of enlightenment; he has the power to eliminate evil and to establish goodness and to defeat poisonous snakes and dragons.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1800 item #1434998 (stock #10371)
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Very unusual figure of the Kigyo Kishimojin, standing with a baby in her arms, holding up a pomegranate in her right hand. In this form she represents the protector of children.
Almost abstracted wooden figure with dark patina. The mouth painted red, the eyes inlaid with glass or crystal painted with gold in reverse technique, the pomegranate made of a red kernel.

This is a very rare appearance, a kind of in-between form between the child robbing and devouring monster and the transformed and enlightened mother feeding on fruit and vegetables.

Japan, 19th century.

Height case: 13 inches (32.5 cm).

Figure in very good condition with one worm hole and tiny chip at seam at face. Base with repaired boulder. Case basically in fine condition with beautiful hardware on shrine.

Kishimojin, or Kishibojin, or Kariteimo, is a complex deity. Originally, she was a demon who stole and killed other people's children in order to feed her numerous own children. After Buddha Shakyamuni made her see how she made people suffer, she repented and devoted herself to protecting all children. Instead of the flesh of children, she fed her own children pomegranate henceforth.
Women pray to her for easy delivery, child rearing, for harmony between husband and wife, love, and for the well-being of the family. Childless women also pray to Kishimojin in the hope of becoming pregnant.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1920 item #1294008 (stock #10776)
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Cast iron kakebotoke or votive plaque for a Buddhist temple or house shrine, showing Amida Nyorai in low relief with ajour in mandorla. Japan, Meiji era, 19/20th century.

Diameter 6 ¼ inches

Excellent condition

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #366389 (stock #10237)
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Tall zushi with wooden sculpture of Yakushi Nyorai standing on a high, double lotus base. In his left hand he holds a medicine jar, while his right hand is raised in mudra. Very simple, country style carving. Lotus base very well carved in wood, covered with gold lacquer. Figure is plain wood covered with soot patina. Names of the donors written in ink on the bottom of the case. Date unreadable. Edo period, mid 17th century, possibly earlier. Height of case 25 3/4 in. (65.8 cm). Figure in good condition. Case with clear traces of usage, however in very stable condition.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1837 VR item #1364039 (stock #10931)
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Fairly large zushi hand shrine in the shape of a lotus petal. Double sided, made of sandalwood.
Inside each half is a deep relief carving of Buddhist deities. On one side the three-eyed Aizen Myoo with a lion crown, sitting on a lotus base in the clouds before a red mandorla. His six hands hold Vajra and ghanta, bow and arrow, and lotus bud and pouch. On the other side the two-armed Kannon bosatsu, holding a lotus bud in the left hand, sitting on a lotus base in the clouds. Inside decorated in gold, red, blue and black for details, green mineral color for the background.
The outside decorated in gold lacquer over a black lacquer ground: loose lotus petals and a bonji on each side (one bonji probably for Fugen and one bonji A (for Amida)).
Japan, Edo period, around 1800.

H ca. 3-7/8 inches

Inside in excellent condition with minimal abrasions of the blue in the hair and of the green background pigment. Black lacquer on the outside with some losses. Above the bonji for Fugen (?) a restoration. Wood a bit warped.

Rare

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1700 item #1258420 (stock #10748)
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Hanging scroll with image of the descent of the Buddha to welcome the souls of the deceased and accompany them to the Western Paradise. He is standing on a lotus on clouds and holds his hand in gebon josho. The mudra is the appropriate level for common citizens to be reborn in. Mineral colors and gold on silk. The garment exquisitely decorated in gold. Japan, late Muromachi or early Edo period, 16th century.
Image: 38 ¼ X 15 ¾ inches. Mounting: 84 ¼ x 21 3/8 inches.
Missing areas throughout the silk, mainly in the background. Beautifully stabilized.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1800 item #502361 (stock #10414)
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$2,500.00
Japanese Buddhist scroll painting with the image of Amida raigo, the descent of Amida Buddha from the Western Paradise to earth. He comes down to transport the newly deceased devotee to the Western Paradise. In the middle Amida, to his right the bodhisattva Seishi, hands folded in prayer, to his left Kannon holding the lotus throne for transporting the deceased to Paradise. A ray of light comes from Amida’s urna. All three figures are standing on lotus thrones, floating on white clouds. They are surrounded by a dark indigo blue background with scattered flowers that seems to be tumbling around in the sky. The outlines of the figures finely done in red. The garments of all three decorated in very fine flower and geometric designs in gold. Japan, 18th century.
Painted area: 37 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. (95.3 x 41.9 cm). Total height: 75 1/2 in. (191.7 cm).
Some paint rubbed off (mainly in flowers), some scratches in blue background, partly retouched (minimally), basically very good condition. Modern, Chinese mounting.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1445173 (stock #10297)
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$3,500.00
Small painting of the 11-headed Kannon standing on a lotus dais, flanked by Bishamonten and Fudo Myoo.
In the front two red colored Nio are guarding the deities.
Inscription on the central base reads: Ichijoten (name of the temple hall), junsan koichi hongu.
The inscription on the bottom reads: Kazusa Shibayama Tenozan Kanon kyoji.
Rollers cut off and framed in mounting.

Black ink and colors on paper.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century.

Painted area: 22 7/8 x 10 9/16 inches
Frame: 29 ½ x 12¼ inches.

Paper slightly creased and rubbed at places, some pigment loss on creases, otherwise good condition.

This painting was sold at the Kannon kyoji temple on Tenno Mountain in Shibayama (Chiba Prefecture). It shows the main hall’s statues of worship, the 11-headed Kannon, Bishamonten and Fudo Myoo, and the famous nio at the gate. Printed versions of this image were also sold.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1800 item #413551 (stock #10296)
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$2,800.00
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).
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1800 item #1431521 (stock #10472)
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Small but exquisite scroll paintings in mineral colors and gold on silk. The background in the upper halves in gold.
Aizen Myoo sits on his typical lotus throne on top of the vase full of jewels, surrounded by a circular, red, flaming nimbus. Around the foot of the jewel filled vase are sacred treasures scattered around.
Daiitoku Myoo rides in standing position a long horned buffalo who jumps over waves, while Daiitoku draws his bow.
Rich brocade mounting with the chrysanthemum and the paulownia crests.
Japan, Edo period, 18th century.

Painted silk of each: H 16.8 x W 9.3 x in. (42.7 x 23.6 cm).
With mounting H is approx. 50.5 in.

Restored tear in the upper half of the Daiitoku-painting, otherwise good conditions.

Comes with a plain (uninscribed) wooden storage box.

Aizen and Daiitoku are two of the Myoo who – in Esoteric Buddhism - subdue evil spirits and convert nonbelievers to the teachings of Dainichi Buddha.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1320450 (stock #10825)
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Rare pair of foxes that guard a Inari shrine. One holding a jewel in the mouth, the other a key. Each squatting on a little pedestal. Earthenware with mineral color pigments red, blue, white and black. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.

H 19-1/2 x W 6-1/2 x D 9 inches.

One tail restored, key broken and partially replaced for the sake of symmetry, few chips. All in all excellent condition.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1443903 (stock #10593)
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Highly unusual Buddhist shrine with the image of a horse looking back. The horse has a ‘brocade’ cover over his back and is standing behind a mesh wire fence, the way they would be kept in temple compounds.

Polychromed wood with some gold details. The roof of the shrine is a separate piece and can be detached, which allows for taking apart the zushi.

Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
Height of zushi ca. 7.8 inches (19.5 cm).

Frontal golden curtain dislodged due to warping, but still with the zushi; one door lost its hinge-functions (top and bottom pin broken off, triangular splinter on right door on last photo), paint on brocade cover of horse chipping and fragile.

This piece needs to be seen as a form of ema, which were offered to temples and shrines as a calling to the deity. In the Shinto religion, horses are intermediaries between this world and the gods. The horse is seen to be used by various deities, for example Benzaiten.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1425051 (stock #11002)
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$650.00
Reliquary in the shape of a pagoda, used to house the Hokyoin Sutra. This type of reliquary originates from China and developed in Japan in the Kamakura era. The Hokyoin Darani sutra contains invocations that make it easier for the soul of the deceased to find its way out of Hell directly into Paradise. These pagodas are usually made of stone, so they can be buried with the deceased. The sutra is recited daily in esoteric Buddhist sects, and is venerated as a relic of the Buddha Shakyamuni. As such the lower part should contain relics.
The pagoda is made in two parts. The lower part can be opened (double doors on one side), showing a void that could be filled with something circular. The upper part has four disc shape decorations sitting on a lotus dais, each with a name of the Bodhisattva in bonji (Sanskrit): Aizen Myoo (front), Kokuzo bosatsu (left), Senju Kanzeon bosatsu (back), and Seishi bosatsu (right).
Gold and black lacquer on wood, Japan, Edo period, 19th century.

H ca. 15.5 in; W 5 in.; D 5 in.

Few segments missing (jewel on top of the pike; lotus dais underneath one of the bonji, one of the corner petals on second tier), dedication and name of donor scratched out (back), knicks and dents

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1900 item #1431362 (stock #10796)
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$800.00
Hanging scroll. A circle on a black background, divided into ten sections around a white central circle that holds the character ‘shin’, meaning heart or soul. The ten sections represent the ten realms that are the ten possibilities of rebirth. On top the four realms of enlightened beings: Buddhas, Boshisattvas, arhats and pratyeka Buddhas. Underneath, the six realms (rokudo): Heavenly beings, humans, Bellicose demons (Ashura), animals, hungry ghosts and hell. Ink, mineral colors, gofun and gold on paper. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.

Image: 29.25 x W 21 inches. Mounting: 44.25 x 26.5 inches. Silver scroll ends decorated with cut out peonies on rocks mounted over a sentoku core.

Punch hole in bottom, stabilized by mounting, few small rubbed spots, dent in scroll end.